John Nores

Date: 2019-08-26 | Duration: 2h 7m

Category: True Crime & Justice, Nature & Outdoors

Episode Overview

John Nores shares his extensive experience as a game warden confronting the environmental and criminal challenges posed by illegal cannabis cultivation, particularly in California’s wildlands. He details how trespass grows operated by cartel-backed groups devastate ecosystems, contaminating waterways with banned pesticides like carbofuran and causing severe harm to endangered species such as steelhead trout. Nores explains the evolution of enforcement tactics, from early solo patrols in remote areas to coordinated multi-agency task forces that combine wildlife expertise with narcotics investigations. His stories reveal the dangerous nature of these operations, including armed confrontations and the use of sophisticated methods by growers to evade detection. The conversation also explores the broader implications of cannabis legalization, highlighting how inconsistent laws across states and federal inaction have allowed a persistent black market to flourish. Nores emphasizes the thin green line game wardens walk, balancing public safety, environmental protection, and the complexities of a shifting legal landscape. He shares insights on the critical role of specially trained canines in detecting illegal grows and preventing violence. Throughout, Nores reflects on the importance of restoring damaged habitats and the ongoing struggle to protect public lands from exploitation, underscoring the need for continued vigilance and resources in this hidden war in the woods.

About John Nores

John Nores is a seasoned game warden with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, renowned for his innovative approach to wildlife conservation. He co-developed the Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) and the Delta Team, California's first specialized wilderness tactical unit designed to combat the devastating impact of marijuana cartels on the state's natural resources. With a unique blend of law enforcement and environmental stewardship, Nores has garnered attention for his hands-on efforts to protect California's wildlife, making him a compelling figure in the ongoing conversation about conservation and public safety. His insights into the intersection of illegal drug cultivation and environmental degradation provide a fascinating perspective on contemporary challenges facing our natural ecosystems.

Key Moments

– Game Warden
– Illegal Cannabis Cultivation
– Environmental Damage
– Wildlife Forensics
– Cartel Operations
– Wildlife Trafficking
– Law Enforcement Tactics
– Canine Units
– Waterway Restoration
– Pesticide Poisoning
– Public Land Protection
– Drug Enforcement
– Wildlife Conservation
– Marijuana Legalization
– Poaching
– Federal Regulations
– Wildlife Identification
– Environmental Policy
– Community Reporting
– Wildlife Crime
0:00:18 – Introduction to Game Warden Role
0:01:22 – Connection to Nature and Woods
0:02:45 – Steelhead Trout Research Mention
0:05:05 – Collaboration with Narcotic Task Forces
0:07:14 – Discussion of Environmental Damage from Grows
0:09:35 – Stream Restoration Techniques Explained
0:11:00 – Books 'War in the Woods' and 'Hidden War'
0:14:16 – Building Multi-Agency Enforcement Teams
0:16:10 – Restoring Waterways and Wildlife Habitats
0:17:18 – Cartel Involvement in Illegal Cannabis
0:19:06 – Impact of Marijuana Laws on Enforcement
0:23:06 – Explanation of Punji Pits Used by Growers
0:24:25 – Canine Unit Stories and Capabilities
0:27:23 – Tactics Used by Growers to Evade Detection
0:30:40 – Tohono Ranch Conservation Efforts
0:34:18 – Cartel Grow Operations in Silicon Valley
0:36:09 – Danger and Violence in Enforcement
0:38:59 – Wildlife Trafficking Teams Formation
0:41:08 – Illegal Wildlife Product Trade
0:43:40 – Poaching Practices and Challenges
0:46:15 – Nighttime Enforcement Techniques
0:49:31 – Spotlighting Illegal Activities
0:53:29 – Balancing Enforcement and Fairness
0:56:22 – Media Exposure and Public Awareness
1:00:26 – Challenges of Being on Law Enforcement Radar
1:04:10 – Support for Cannabis Program Without Charges
1:07:17 – Border Issues and Cartel Problems
1:11:43 – Comparison to Prohibition Era Crime
1:13:41 – Gunfights and Enforcement Risks
1:18:59 – Severity of Cartel Situation
1:22:36 – Evolution of Cartel Fronts in Grows
1:26:57 – Canine Units Saving Lives
1:29:30 – Changing Role of Game Wardens
1:33:09 – Environmental Cleanup of Grow Sites
1:38:07 – Persistence of Illegal Grow Operations
1:40:50 – Widespread Use of Carbofuran Pesticide
1:42:14 – Steelhead Trout Conservation Value
1:47:57 – Preserving Wild Lands and Wildlife
1:52:01 – Family Hunting Traditions
1:56:13 – Youth Engagement with Conservation
1:58:47 – Planet Cannabis Entertainment Network Launch
2:02:15 – Long-Range Rifle Company Partnership
2:03:24 – Reflection on Career and Impact

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 Thanks, bud. Starting point is 00:00:06 How are you doing? Starting point is 00:00:18 You were a game warden, or you are a game warden. Starting point is 00:00:58 of work we were doing when it come to the the trespass gross and the cartel issue you know and Starting point is 00:01:22 So I was all in the woods, you know, the woods are my church. Starting point is 00:01:56 guys out there and some problems. And then in 1995, I got to go back home toward the Silicon Starting point is 00:02:45 land as well. And on that situation, I had a good friend of mine that I grew up with that was doing his master's thesis at San Jose State University, both of our alma mater, on steelhead trout, Starting point is 00:03:21 And all the fish, the steelhead fry are dead. Starting point is 00:03:51 don't have any cell phone coverage, and I have an unarmed civilian, Starting point is 00:04:24 they're not the growers I'm typically, you know, that I would have suspected. These guys are, you know, they got Starting point is 00:05:05 I started to bring in other agencies, narcotic groups, task forces, the sheriff's office, Starting point is 00:05:43 don't normally do this type of stuff. So, so go for it. So we were the bird dogs. We kind of guided Starting point is 00:06:29 And that was out there in some extent, but it was so early when we weren't really aware of the Starting point is 00:07:14 environmental damage? And nobody was reclamating the damage or, or, or cleaning up any of this Starting point is 00:07:57 chopped all the plants up or did what they did did they try to reclaim the the creek did they Starting point is 00:08:22 So I wasn't going to make waves. Starting point is 00:08:57 long academy. That's all wildlife specific, wildlife forensics, wildlife ID, weapons Starting point is 00:09:35 how would you how would you fix that we would have got with him and it's what's called a stream Starting point is 00:10:26 precedent right exactly it was it was complete...

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Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #1340?

John Nores was the guest on JRE #1340. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #1340?

On Joe Rogan Experience #1340 with John Nores, topics include Game Warden, Illegal Cannabis Cultivation, Environmental Damage, and Wildlife Forensics.

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