The opening statement noted that marijuana cultivation in national forests, national parks, and Bureau of Land Management lands was a relatively recent phenomenon and that concern over marijuana cultivation resulted from the need to assure the safety of visitors to national forests and the importance of minimizing adverse environmental effects. Testimony pointed out that public lands are particularly attractive to marijuana cultivators for several reasons: (1) public lands are generally remote; (2) private lands are considered an element of the crime; and (3) it is difficult to link marijuana patches on public lands to the grower's identity. Hearing participants considered cooperation between the Forest Service and the appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies in drug law enforcement. Testimony provided by various government and private organizations focused on efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration and other law enforcement agencies to control marijuana cultivation and trafficking and the extent of the problem of marijuana cultivation in national forests.