The Latest: US prosecutor prioritizes illegal California pot

The Latest on illegal marijuana on public lands in California (all times local):

2:15 p.m.

The top U.S. prosecutor for northeastern California says he'll prioritize black market marijuana rather than going after the state's newly legal pot market.

U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott said Tuesday that there is so much illegal weed being grown on federal lands and trafficked to other states that he doesn't have the resources to target the world's largest legal recreational marijuana market.

Federal law still bans pot, but Scott says he'll focus on interstate trafficking, organized crime and damage to U.S. public lands.

The Trump administration appointee announced that U.S., state and local authorities will target the illegal grows with $2.5 million in federal money.

The money is driven by concerns about an alarming increase in the use of a banned and highly toxic pesticide at illegal marijuana farms hidden on public land in California.

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9:02 a.m.

Researchers and federal authorities are finding what they say is an alarming increase in the use of a powerful pesticide at illegal marijuana farms hidden on public land in California.

They're finding the pesticide residue in marijuana illegally grown in California but mostly destined for Midwestern and Eastern states.

Researcher Mourad Gabriel tells The Associated Press that his team found the highly toxic pesticide Carbofuran at 72 percent of grow sites last year, up from 15 percent in 2012.

Nearly a third of pot plants tested positive for the pesticide.

Gabriel says the pesticide is so powerful that less than a teaspoon can kill a 300-pound bear.

Federal and state authorities are announcing Tuesday that they will target the illegal grows with $2.5 million in federal money.