SACRAMENTO – Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that the state seized $476 million worth of illegal cannabis between April and June, thanks to the combined efforts of the Governor’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force (UCETF), co-led by the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) and the Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW).
“As a proof point of California’s commitment to the legal cannabis industry, the state seized over 92 tons of illicit cannabis product in the past three months alone. I thank the federal, state, and local partners who conducted these enforcement efforts for protecting consumers and supporting our legal cannabis market,” noted Newsom.
In the efforts announced Thursday, UCETF received support from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Pesticide Regulation, Employment Development Department, and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Combined enforcement highlights from April through June include:
- 413,302 illegal cannabis plants eradicated
- 185,873 pounds of illegal cannabis seized
- 214 warrants served
- 77 firearms seized
- 93 arrests
“Our teams continue to take an aggressive and proactive approach to eliminating unlicensed cannabis activities,” said DCC Director Nicole Elliott. “We will remain laser-focused on dismantling illicit cannabis operations until they are all permanently shut down.”
“Over the past quarter, UCETF conducted numerous highly strategic operations that significantly impacted the daily activities of illegal cannabis operators,” said Nathaniel Arnold, Chief of the Law Enforcement Division for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). “This success would not be possible without the continued support and dedication of our partners throughout the state.”
In May, UCETF conducted its largest successful operation to date with 200 sworn officers and staff from state, local, and federal agencies participating in an enforcement effort spanning 4,600 square miles in the Central Valley. The state’s task force dedicated to eradicating illegal cannabis operations conducted a large-scale, multi-agency operation in the Central Valley, leading to the seizure of 105,700 illicit cannabis plants and 22,057 pounds of processed cannabis worth $123.5 million. Through 71 search warrants, officials seized:
- 105,700 illicit cannabis plants
- 22,057 pounds of processed cannabis valued at $123.5 million
- Nine firearms
“Let this be a reminder to all who grow cannabis illegally: we won’t tolerate the undermining of our legal industry and impacts to our environment. I appreciate the multi-agency, cross-county efforts to take on the illicit market,” said Newsom.
“This operation represents the power of collaboration across agencies with a shared commitment to protecting our natural resources and preserving the integrity of California’s legal cannabis market,” said Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Charlton H. Bonham. “The scale of this historic effort—and its success—would not have been possible without the dedication and coordination of every agency involved.”
A unified strategy across California
Since 2019, officials have seized and destroyed over 950 tons, or over 1.9 million pounds, of illegal cannabis worth an estimated retail value of $3.6 billion through over 1,700+ operations.
The cannabis task force was established in 2022 by Gov. Newsom to enhance collaboration and enforcement coordination between state, local, and federal partners. Partners on the task force include the Department of Cannabis Control, the Department of Pesticide Regulation, the Department of Toxic Substances Control, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife, among others.
To learn more about the legal California cannabis market, state licenses, and laws, visit cannabis.ca.gov.
