Half Million Marijuana Plants Destroyed In Costa Rica's Talamanca

More than 560.000 marijuana plants were destroyed by Costa Rican authorities during this month, as part of a campaign in the Talamanca mountains that also provided food, medicines and other humanitarian assistance to 190 native communities in the country's remote region.

The Minsiterio de Seguridad Publica says it destroyed 562,757 marijuana plant, but no arrests were made.

Costa Rican authorities report that they have destroyed more than 4.1 million marijuana plants over the past two years in Talamanca, the most difficult to reach area in Costa Rica and home to the country's tallest mountains, the ministry said in a statement.

Some natives plant marijuana along with corn, plantains and other food crops, the ministry said.

Forests have been cleared to plant corn and plantains by the natives, who live in poverty and lack access to medical care and basic services, police stationed in the area said.

"According to officers, the area is increasingly deteriorating; in fact, 'clearings' can be seen that are affecting biodiversity, as well as much poverty and little attention to public services," the ministry said.

*Marijuana (Cannabis) is illegal in Costa Rica, but there is a high tolerance of smoking marijuana throughout the country, a decriminalization system is implemented de facto since police officers do not detain people carrying enough for only personal consumption, yet no amount has been defined as a minimum for possession.

Usage of Cannabis in Costa Rica is very high.

*Source: Wikipedia's Legality of cannabis by country