Law enforcement authorities have made 282 arrests in 36 counties across California in an effort to safeguard the state’s legal marijuana market. Attorney General Rob Bonta announced on Oct. 21 that raids on illicit cannabis growers have resulted in the seizure of over $350 million worth of illegal cannabis this year.
According to a press release from Bonta’s office, nearly 800,000 illegally cultivated cannabis plants have been eradicated, and more than 100,000 pounds of processed cannabis have been seized. In addition to the arrests, authorities have also confiscated 201 weapons in the 36 counties.
The operations were carried out as part of the Eradication and Prevention of Illicit Cannabis (EPIC) program, which involves collaboration between federal and state agencies. EPIC focuses on addressing the environmental damage, economic impact, and labor exploitation associated with illicit cannabis operations.
Significant raids took place in Riverside County, where 136,601 plants were seized from 79 sites. In Siskiyou County, 67,943 plants were confiscated from 98 sites, and in Shasta County, 51,289 plants were removed from 67 sites.
California State Parks Law Enforcement Assistant Chief Jeremy Stinson highlighted the threat that illegal cannabis cultivation poses to the environment, with more than 400 sites documented in state parks. Toxic chemicals such as carbofuran, methyl parathion, and illegal fertilizers have been seized by agents during the operations.
In 2024, EPIC teams have conducted 665 operations throughout Northern, Central, and Southern California, dismantling infrastructure and removing hazardous materials. Despite these efforts, there is still work to be done to prevent illicit cannabis from entering the legal market, as noted by San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus.
The press release also mentioned that the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force (UCETF) has seized $70.7 million worth of illegal cannabis since July, with total seizures for the year valued at over $191 million. Governor Gavin Newsom directed state agencies to target organized criminal cannabis enterprises aggressively.
California voters approved the recreational use of marijuana by adults 21 and over in 2016.
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