What land were feds buying up out west? I know that they were big on making reserves, preserves, national monuments and other such things to be off limites to humans, as well as destroying roards and even paths in National Forest lands.
This as in 2013. Maybe for reasons you mentioned and just because there is so much which states cannot afford to maintain.
This is old: https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/National-parks-pot-farms-blamed-on-cartels-2560508.php
The rest of the geography would be returned "to nature" for the recreational joys of the ruling elite.