Oregon Senator Blames Drug Use For Herbicide Poisonings

If your dog dies suddenly; your horse goes blind; your 1-month-old baby vomits for 24 hours straight; and you develop a chronic cough, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, diarrhea and bleeding from the lungs, then, according to Oregon State Senator Jeff Kruse, it’s evidence that you’re succumbing to the ill effects of substance abuse. And, somehow, your children, pets and livestock are, too.

Citizens of Southern Oregon’s Rogue River Valley have been complaining since 2007 about helicopters spraying herbicides far too close to drinking water sources and residences. In 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rebuked Oregon’s haphazard and shoddy handling of the complaints. But the powerful timber industry continued spraying their forest clear-cuts, sometimes in windy conditions that guaranteed drift into residential and farm areas.

In October 2013, 15 citizens of the Southern Oregon coast town of Cedar Valley complained of health complications after being exposed to illegally sprayed herbicides. The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) bungled the investigation and refused for six months to tell the people what exactly was making them so ill.

Eventually, the State of Oregon found that a helicopter pilot, Steve Owen, lied to the ODA about what he was spraying on clear-cut forests near the citizens of Cedar Valley, claiming to spray only glyphosate (also known as Monsanto’s popular Roundup brand of herbicide), when he was actually spraying that plus seven other herbicides. The active ingredients in those included sulfometuron methyl; imazapyr; triclopyr; and 2,4-d ester.

Triclopyr is one of few herbicides absorbed through skin, leading to rash and sensitization. 2,4-d ester is one of the prime ingredients in Agent Orange that debilitated many Vietnam War veterans who were exposed to it as part of the U.S. military’s herbicidal warfare program. It’s also highly toxic to dogs.

The result of the ODA’s investigation was a settlement. The ODA dropped the $20,000 fine it had levied against Steve Owen and his company, Pacific Air Research, in exchange for not disputing that he lied about the chemicals he was spraying too close to people, pets, livestock and drinking water.

For actions the ODA found to be “gross negligence and willful misconduct,” they also revoked Owen’s commercial pesticide applicator’s license for one year. By this time next year, Owen can re-apply for his spraying license and by this time in 2018, the ODA will remove any trace of this incident from its records.

Enter Oregon State Senator Jeff Kruse, who represents the people who have been poisoned from above by pesticide sprayers like Pacific Air Research. Last month, the Senate heard the third reading of House Bill 3549, a pesticide buffer-zone bill prompted by these aerial poisonings. Senator Kruse rose to give the following statement (emphasis mine):

“Those people of the South Coast who complained,” Kruse said, “I know for a fact that the chemicals sprayed could, in no way, shape or form, could have caused the reactions they (said they) caused.

“I also know, those people have a long history of substances and adult beverages that might have contributed to it,” he added. “The two chemicals sprayed did not cause the reactions they have, could not have killed their dogs. They were herbicides; I know this for an absolute fact.”

It seems like Senator Kruse has more belief in Monsanto than his own constituents.

It’s no surprise that as counties in Southern Oregon began petitioning for local bans on genetically-modified (GMO) crops, Senator Kruse was a key co-sponsor of the so-called 2013 Monsanto Protection Act that overruled any local bans on GMOs. During his elected career of 19 years, Senator Kruse has accepted 54 campaign donations totaling $35,172 from the forestry industry, which perhaps best explains his views. That haul is bested only by the $47,000 he’s accepted from the pharmaceutical and $54,900 from medical industries—which may explain some of his views on medical marijuana

Total
0
Shares
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts
Spain
Read More

Jon’s Stone-Cold Cop List #48: Americans in Spain

For March’s Cop List our VP of Content includes a collection of products from both America and Spain. This month’s list includes Hall of Flame, Heirbloom, Bando Farmers, No Till Kings, the Bud Professor and more…
Rick Ross
Read More

Recreational Rapper Weed: The Rick Ross Interview

High Times caught up with millionaire mogul and rapper Rick Ross to talk about weed, rapping, and his recent entry into the recreational cannabis market with Los Angeles-based High Tolerance.
Güd Gardens
Read More

Going Rogue

Güd Gardens offers an expansive selection of unique cultivars.
Bruno
Read More

Bruno Worldwide

The West Coast’s favorite bowtied roller hits Europe.
Hashem
Read More

Comedian Dina Hashem Senses a Gulf

The Comedy Cellar and Gotham Comedy Club regular, who also wrote for The Sex Lives of College Girls, recently spoke to High Times about her style, despising the Sheraton Hotel, and enjoying psychedelics.
Total
0
Share