Weed Country

In a remote wilderness tucked deep inside the border of California and Oregon – known as the Emerald Triangle – marijuana flourishes. Farmers in this area can earn millions in a single summer, but with that kind of reward comes huge risk. Growing marijuana here is a cutthroat business -- where only the best survive.

"WEED COUNTRY", a new six part series on Discovery Channel premiering Wednesday, February 20, 10|9c, shows the battle between cops, dealers and the growers looking to engineer some of the most powerful marijuana on earth.

Today eighteen states and Washington, D.C., have legalized medical marijuana. Washington state and Colorado recently approved marijuana for recreational use and at least 10 more states are expected to consider similar legislation this year. But for the farmers in states that have harsh laws, the risks are great. A marijuana farm with over a thousand plants could land someone in jail for up to 40 years.

Many of the growers see it as their duty to supply the plant for much needed medicinal purposes. “Any other flower that had these medical properties would be treated as the greatest discovery to happen in this century,” said Nate Morris, who began growing marijuana at just 14-years-old and hopes to turn the plant into a medical game changer.

However, in the eyes of the government, Nate and his fellow growers are felons committing serious crimes and the idea of medical marijuana is a scam. “Kids are getting a hold of it and that’s one of my big concerns. It is a problem of epidemic proportions,” said Jon Lopey. Sheriff Coroner of Siskiyou County, California.

Heavily armed with weapons and helicopters for aerial surveillance, these hardline law enforcers will stop at nothing to take down the growers’ operations and cut off their supply chains. As the pressure intensifies, turf wars and battles erupt between neighbors. Will the growers win the fight to change hardline political and social attitudes? Or will the authorities be able to bring them down once and for all? (Source: The Discovery Channel)