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-Editorial
California officials announced that a series of coordinated enforcement operations in November resulted in the eradication of more than 58,000 cannabis plants and the seizure of roughly three tons of processed cannabis valued at an estimated $56.5 million, as the state continues efforts to curb the illicit cannabis market.
The operations were conducted by the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce, a multiagency group led by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC). The actions targeted unlicensed outdoor and indoor cultivation sites in Alameda and Los Angeles counties that state officials said posed environmental and public safety risks.
Between Nov. 18 and Nov. 20, CDFW officers coordinated a large-scale operation near Lancaster in northeast Los Angeles County. Working with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, officers served 52 warrants on private properties used for outdoor cannabis cultivation. The three-day effort resulted in the eradication of 32,738 plants and the destruction of 5,122 pounds of processed cannabis. Officers detained and cited 12 people and seized six firearms. CDFW documented 24 Fish and Game Code violations and reported finding bottles labeled as containing carbofuran and methamidophos, pesticides banned in the United States because of their toxicity to wildlife and potential to contaminate water and soil. Officers also confiscated 12 grams of methamphetamine.
CDFW led another enforcement action on Nov. 18 in Hayward, where officers served search warrants at several industrial warehouses operating as unlicensed indoor grow sites. Authorities reported the eradication of 6,157 cannabis plants and the seizure of 193.6 pounds of processed cannabis. Multiple state and local agencies supported the operation.
The Department of Cannabis Control conducted a separate operation on Nov. 24 in Harbor City, where investigators served three warrants at indoor cultivation sites located near a recreation center and several religious institutions. Officers eradicated 19,463 plants and seized 277.2 pounds of processed cannabis, valued at about $16.5 million. Partner agencies shut off utilities and issued multiple code violations.
State officials said illegal cultivation continues to undermine California’s regulated cannabis market and harm surrounding communities. Outdoor sites can lead to water diversion, the use of unregistered pesticides, soil and water contamination, and damage to local ecosystems, including the removal of native vegetation and the introduction of invasive species. Indoor cultivation sites often involve electrical theft, unsafe wiring and overloaded circuits, increasing the risk of structure fires.
The November operations involved extensive coordination among state, local and regulatory agencies, including support from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, California National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, Employment Development Department, State Water Resources Control Board, regional water agencies and multiple county law enforcement and fire departments.
The Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce was established in 2022 by Gov. Gavin Newsom to increase collaboration among state and federal agencies addressing the illegal cannabis industry. Co-chaired by DCC and CDFW, the task force now includes more than two dozen partner agencies. Since its launch, it has conducted hundreds of enforcement actions and prioritized cases involving environmental damage, labor violations and public safety threats.
