China News Service, April 11. According to Brazil’s South American Overseas Chinese News, there is an area known as the “Emerald Triangle” in northern California, which is the largest cannabis-producing area in the United States.

Amanda, a 28-year-old Brazilian programmer, is one of the many foreigners looking to make a quick buck to harvest marijuana on illegal farms in the area.

　Huge numbers of foreigners tempted by quick money to work on illegal cannabis farms

　　Although California has legalized marijuana, the informal market is expanding due to high fees and license requirements for legal producers.

　　Brazilian programmer Amanda wanted to move to Europe, but lacking enough money, she went to Santa Cruz, California, to work on an illegal cannabis farm.

Although the money is good, she doesn't recommend the job to anyone.

Because this type of work is a crime, being caught by the police can lead to deportation and even a sentence in Brazil.

　　Amanda went there to work because her friend had been there several times.

With the help of this friend, Amanda entered the United States on a tourist visa, traveled through several cities in California, and finally came to the plantation.

　　According to Amanda, people were seen sitting on the sidewalk holding signs looking for cannabis farms.

Living conditions in illegal farms where humans and mice live together

　　By the time she arrived at the cannabis farm in Santa Cruz, Amanda already knew the accommodation wouldn't be too good.

However, she did not expect it to be so bad.

　　Amanda recalls that she shared a space with six other people, Brazilians and foreigners, who had to sleep in tents, had only enough running water for one person, and had difficulty using the toilet.

"I pooped in a bucket and urinated on the floor. I also had to shower in a bucket. There was no mobile phone signal, internet or hot water," she said.

　　When the weather is cold, there are rats on the trailer, which is the only shelter, for the night.

According to Amanda, some farms have slightly better working conditions, but few offer good accommodation.

　　The expenses there are low, they don't have to pay for accommodation, they just need to buy groceries.

Fearing the police, illegal marijuana workers go to the market very cautiously, needing to bathe, change clothes and thoroughly clean their nails, which turn black from trimming.

　American farmer earns 'plenty of money' and sexually harassed employees

　　Generally speaking, farmers need a lot of labor for hemp harvesting and pruning in the fall.

Farmers are typically paid $80 an hour when harvesting hemp, and $120 to $150 per half-kilogram when trimming hemp.

Due to her inexperience, Amanda spends about 12 hours a day completing her goals.

　　While working on the illegal farm, Amanda had very few breaks, she woke up early, had breakfast, and started working, only resting for meals, toileting and sleeping at night.

　　The owner of Amanda's farm is in her early 30s and makes a lot of money from this "business".

Labor on illegal farms is actually very cheap, although that's a good deal for Brazilians who can earn dollars.

　　Amanda also said workers working on illegal farms also faced physical and death threats.

Many have been sexually harassed, and Amanda has heard of women being held at gunpoint by ranchers, forced to work without their tops, and even disappearing.

　　At first, Amanda wanted to stay on the cannabis farm for two months, but she was more mentally tired than physically.

People fight over money and even have serious mental problems.

In the end, Amanda gave up her job and returned to Brazil, where she made it clear that she would never do such a job again.