Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73

§559b Prevention of manufacture, etc., of marijuana and other controlled substances

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 3— - FORESTS; FOREST SERVICE; REFORESTATION; MANAGEMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 559b

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Allows the Secretary of Agriculture to take actions needed, when managing and using the National Forest System, to stop the making, selling, or giving out of marijuana and other controlled drugs. This does not reduce the Forest Service’s law enforcement powers. The words used here mean: manufacture — to make; dispense — to give out; distribute — to share or sell.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §559b

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The purpose of sections 559b to 559f of this title is to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter in sections 559b to 559f of this title referred to as the “Secretary”) to take actions necessary, in connection with the administration and use of the National Forest System, to prevent the manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of marijuana and other controlled substances.
(b)Nothing in sections 559b to 559f of this title shall diminish in any way the law enforcement authority of the Forest Service.
(c)As used in sections 559b to 559f of this title, the terms “manufacture”, “dispense”, and “distribute” shall have the same meaning given such terms in section 802 of title 21.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Sections 559b to 559f of this title, referred to in text, was in the original “this title”, meaning title XV of Pub. L. 99–570, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–191, known as the National Forest System Drug Control Act of 1986, which enacted sections 559b to 559f of this title, amended section 841 of Title 21, Food and Drugs, and enacted provisions set out as a note below. For complete classification of title XV to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out below and Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

Pub. L. 99–570, title XV, § 15001, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–191, provided that: “This title [enacting this section and sections 559c to 559f of this title and amending section 841 of Title 21, Food and Drugs] may be cited as the ‘National Forest System Drug Control Act of 1986’.” National Forest System, National Park System, and Bureau of Land Management Public Lands Safety; Findings Pub. L. 100–690, title VI, § 6254(a), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4363, provided that: “Congress finds that— “(1) National Forest System lands continue to be a haven for the unlawful production of marijuana and other controlled substances, which—“(A) endangers the public in its use of National Forest System lands; “(B) interferes with the ability of the Forest Service to effectively manage the natural resources and activities within the National Forest System; and “(C) causes damage and destruction of the natural resources and facilities managed by the Forest Service; “(2) the unlawful production of marijuana and other controlled substances often—“(A) is generally harmful to the environment and public health and safety; “(B) pollutes the air, soil, and water; and “(C) is harmful to wildlife; “(3) the Forest Service needs additional authority to adequately deal with the problem of controlled substance production that affects the administration of the National Forest System; “(4) the Forest Service needs to be able to exercise its investigative authorities outside the boundaries of the National Forest System for drug-related crimes arising from within the National Forest System in order to be effective in deterring such crime; “(5) the authority and powers of the Forest Service are not intended to be in conflict or interfere with the statutory authority, powers, or responsibilities of any State or political subdivision thereof; and “(6) the Forest Service, in the exercise of its law

Enforcement

powers, should cooperate to every extent possible with any other Federal, State, or local law

Enforcement

authority having jurisdiction in areas where national forests are located, particularly where coordinated investigative and

Enforcement

actions can be effective to control crime which affects multiple agencies.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 559b

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73