The history of marijuana in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, is defined by its role as a significant cultivation hub in the Appalachian region, a long-standing culture of "underground" farming, and a gradual shift toward regulated medical use in recent years.
Early History and Cultivation Culture
Like much of West Virginia, Pocahontas County has a history tied to industrial hemp, which was a required crop in the Virginia colony (including present-day West Virginia) as early as 1619 for rope and fabric. However, by the late 20th century, the county’s rugged, mountainous terrain made it an ideal location for illegal cannabis cultivation.
"The Green Mountain State": Historically, West Virginia has consistently ranked in the top 10 U.S. states for marijuana plant eradication.1 Pocahontas County, with its low population density and vast federal land (including the Monongahela National Forest), became a primary site for "guerrilla grows."
Economic Drivers: In rural Appalachian communities where poverty rates can exceed 30%, marijuana cultivation often emerged as a "shadow" cash crop. In some families, cultivation was a multi-generational trade passed down to supplement low incomes.
Law Enforcement and Major Raids
For decades, the "war on drugs" in Pocahontas County focused heavily on outdoor eradication programs led by the West Virginia State Police and federal agencies.
Operation Eradication: Law enforcement often utilized helicopters to spot large outdoor plots in remote areas during the late summer harvest season.
2011 Multi-Agency Raid: A significant drug sweep in May 2011 involved the Pocahontas County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Forest Service.2 While much of the raid focused on prescription pills (like Oxycodone), it also resulted in felony charges for marijuana delivery in Marlinton and Buckeye, highlighting the overlap between traditional cannabis sales and the rising opioid crisis at the time.
Corruption Scandals: The history of the region includes notable scandals involving law enforcement. In nearby Fayette County, a sheriff was once convicted of planting marijuana on school property, illustrating the complex and sometimes compromised history of drug enforcement in the surrounding region.
The Shift to Legalization
The legal landscape in Pocahontas County began to change significantly in the late 2010s:
Hemp Legalization (2002/2014): West Virginia legalized industrial hemp cultivation in 2002, though it didn't gain traction until the 2014 Federal Farm Bill.3 Since then, small-scale hemp and CBD operations have appeared in the rural highlands.
Medical Cannabis Act (2017): Governor Jim Justice signed Senate Bill 386, legalizing medical marijuana.4 While the first dispensaries didn't open until 2021, the law allowed residents with qualifying conditions (like PTSD or chronic pain) to legally possess and use cannabis in specific forms (oils, pills, and later, dry leaf for vaporization).5
Current Status: As of 2025, recreational marijuana remains illegal in Pocahontas County. While some cities in West Virginia (like Morgantown and Charleston) have moved toward local decriminalization, Pocahontas County remains under strict state and federal enforcement for non-medical use.
Modern Challenges
A recent 2024 West Virginia Supreme Court case (State v. Schober) highlighted a modern conflict: the court ruled that individuals on probation can be denied the use of medical cannabis even if they have a state-issued card, because marijuana remains a Schedule I substance under federal law.6 This continues to be a point of legal friction for residents in Pocahontas and surrounding counties.
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