{"id":73986,"date":"2025-07-10T10:33:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T17:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=73986"},"modified":"2025-10-14T16:17:01","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T23:17:01","slug":"over-the-past-three-months-california-seized-476-million-worth-of-unlicensed-cannabis-products","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=73986","title":{"rendered":"Over the past three months, California seized $476 million worth of unlicensed cannabis products"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>What you need to know:<\/strong>\u00a0<span id=\"m_-5727338187340354422docs-internal-guid-a43d0088-7fff-eef2-f98e-5a0d34f43f29\">In the second quarter of 2025, the state\u2019s cross-agency enforcement efforts \u2013 including UCETF\u2019s largest operation to date \u2013 resulted in the seizure of 185,873 pounds of illicit cannabis product valued at $476 million.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"m_-5727338187340354422docs-internal-guid-ed50ef58-7fff-f79a-86e0-5990bcdca4aa\"><strong>SACRAMENTO <\/strong><\/span><span id=\"m_-5727338187340354422docs-internal-guid-8bd9573b-7fff-1475-f9e0-77a7c4c48485\">\u00a0\u2013 Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that the state seized $476 million<\/span>\u00a0worth of illegal cannabis between April and June, thanks to the combined efforts of the Governor\u2019s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force (UCETF), co-led by the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) and\u00a0the Department of Fish &amp; Wildlife (CDFW).<\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"m_-5727338187340354422docs-internal-guid-a9b09c14-7fff-8c5c-ac74-a32f85d44bc8\">\u201cAs a proof point of California\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Governor\u00a0Gavin Newsom<\/strong><\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"m_-5727338187340354422mcnTextContentContainer\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"m_-5727338187340354422mcnTextContent\" valign=\"top\"><span id=\"m_-5727338187340354422docs-internal-guid-eeac1b3d-7fff-b7d2-4199-42ac443d29b2\">In the efforts announced today, 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"m_-5727338187340354422docs-internal-guid-eeac1b3d-7fff-b7d2-4199-42ac443d29b2\">Combined enforcement highlights from April through June include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>413,302 illegal cannabis plants eradicated<\/li>\n<li>185,873 pounds of illegal cannabis seized<\/li>\n<li>214 warrants served<\/li>\n<li>77 firearms seized<\/li>\n<li>93 arrests<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span id=\"m_-5727338187340354422docs-internal-guid-eeac1b3d-7fff-b7d2-4199-42ac443d29b2\">\u201cOur teams continue to take an aggressive and proactive approach to eliminating unlicensed cannabis activities,\u201d said\u00a0<\/span><strong>DCC Director Nicole Elliott<\/strong>. \u201cWe will remain laser-focused on dismantling illicit cannabis operations until they are all permanently shut down.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span id=\"m_-5727338187340354422docs-internal-guid-c1f80806-7fff-6e0b-7a06-bca85acbaa36\">\u201cOver the past quarter, UCETF conducted numerous highly strategic operations that significantly impacted the daily activities of illegal cannabis operators,\u201d said\u00a0<\/span><strong>Nathaniel Arnold, Chief of the Law Enforcement Division for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)<\/strong>. \u201cThis success would not be possible without the continued support and dedication of our partners throughout the state.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"m_-5727338187340354422mcnImageGroupBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"m_-5727338187340354422mcnImageGroupBlockInner\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"m_-5727338187340354422mcnImageGroupContentContainer\" border=\"0\" width=\"564\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"m_-5727338187340354422mcnImageGroupContent\" valign=\"top\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"m_-5727338187340354422mcnImage CToWUd a6T\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NbEmD8l2hKEZqmK0lBRVvRs1N5t_pQeEl8WkDm_rg8a26IIaiRiQ9tL5iBelMU91aL4uQnwWrfKPCqByCaHvH0fHinl-M12QhcsBqCLyEYA06gKKJ42TL1Nahp9RJszoK3pjichR5UOIl1Ev1UyOv8-vbvkHk-ptUsqj8BybKg=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/mcusercontent.com\/afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55\/_compresseds\/6d6be7f0-a30c-7427-b853-a1c58ae2bc91.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"564\" data-bit=\"iit\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"m_-5727338187340354422mcnImageGroupBlockInner\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"m_-5727338187340354422mcnImageGroupContentContainer\" border=\"0\" width=\"273\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"m_-5727338187340354422mcnImageGroupContent\" valign=\"top\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"m_-5727338187340354422mcnImage CToWUd a6T\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NYVTAlvr9VqQpIeMMQot72jM8kUe2e72PoZ_x6rD5oxuawVnHsWbUzoHmFJIov5xl25qy4XGfJt_yjBi1N2Arn7MRbdMHJWgsRFcCU5KxE1Bp9r2Q8kOpaakAoKSZBhSQL7Gd3-f1ONAkQwQejekNEZCavTFUlV5JhXwdmiuI0=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/mcusercontent.com\/afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55\/_compresseds\/4f6f7162-3e8f-0272-4ab4-c04f7b47d7dd.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"264\" data-bit=\"iit\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"m_-5727338187340354422mcnImageGroupContentContainer\" border=\"0\" width=\"273\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"right\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"m_-5727338187340354422mcnImageGroupContent\" valign=\"top\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"m_-5727338187340354422mcnImage CToWUd a6T\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NYI1nKB1_YuqdgRpvVc4FT5zcc2QapjoMjqXEQNe0BIrGnve8DFEA-Bkb133vPnwQTfGGN-NXvb36UlDh1c_mMi4Mf-vNVvnzzLn4iY2r7imgfdFfD8t9Mo36_-VYFszSIkrtXKATtlDsDXN_jLCDTGw-HbqnTyrvQpWYdOfr3-=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/mcusercontent.com\/afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55\/_compresseds\/3343d3f2-c874-05e5-19c0-ba36c6083ac1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"264\" data-bit=\"iit\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"m_-5727338187340354422mcnTextContentContainer\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"m_-5727338187340354422mcnTextContent\" valign=\"top\">In May, UCETF conducted its\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&amp;id=20920d5e5d&amp;e=0a97a8055b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Dafffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55%26id%3D20920d5e5d%26e%3D0a97a8055b&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1752254063045000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3IdqP3fEYd7-G1ltB_H56Y\">largest successful operation to date<\/a>\u00a0with 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. Through 71 search warrants, officials seized:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\"><span id=\"m_-5727338187340354422docs-internal-guid-eeac1b3d-7fff-b7d2-4199-42ac443d29b2\">105,700 illicit cannabis plants<\/span><\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\"><span id=\"m_-5727338187340354422docs-internal-guid-eeac1b3d-7fff-b7d2-4199-42ac443d29b2\">22,057 pounds of processed cannabis valued at $123.5 million\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\"><span id=\"m_-5727338187340354422docs-internal-guid-eeac1b3d-7fff-b7d2-4199-42ac443d29b2\">Nine firearms<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span id=\"m_-5727338187340354422docs-internal-guid-4b6aae4d-7fff-50da-807d-916c1bdf7f56\">A unified strategy across California\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span id=\"m_-5727338187340354422docs-internal-guid-4b6aae4d-7fff-50da-807d-916c1bdf7f56\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"m_-5727338187340354422docs-internal-guid-4b6aae4d-7fff-50da-807d-916c1bdf7f56\">The\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&amp;id=ca6a2a2839&amp;e=0a97a8055b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Dafffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55%26id%3Dca6a2a2839%26e%3D0a97a8055b&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1752254063045000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3iDSU2Vhzg-1K1XQCulFEx\">cannabis task force<\/a>\u00a0was established in 2022 by Governor Newsom to enhance collaboration and enforcement coordination between state, local, and federal partners.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&amp;id=aae86804df&amp;e=0a97a8055b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Dafffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55%26id%3Daae86804df%26e%3D0a97a8055b&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1752254063045000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0eON_7C4xDkAX2yk7O2Q0b\">Partners on the task force<\/a>\u00a0include 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.<\/p>\n<p><span id=\"m_-5727338187340354422docs-internal-guid-4b6aae4d-7fff-50da-807d-916c1bdf7f56\">To learn more about the legal California cannabis market, state licenses, and laws, visit\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&amp;id=7fb7049edd&amp;e=0a97a8055b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Dafffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55%26id%3D7fb7049edd%26e%3D0a97a8055b&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1752254063045000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3Im8nyK6zFYSD1ybnh5AQN\">cannabis.ca.gov<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What you need to know:\u00a0In the&#46;&#46;&#46;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73986","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ca-local"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73986","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=73986"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73986\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":73988,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73986\/revisions\/73988"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=73986"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=73986"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=73986"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}