Golden State Today

Multiple state enforcement units recently dismantled criminal cannabis operations near two California state parks, resulting in the eradication of thousands of pounds of illegal cannabis and the seizure of firearms, including ghost guns and assault weapons. Since January, the Governor’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF) has seized over $120 million in illegal cannabis products, including nearly 73,300 pounds of unlicensed cannabis and eradicated over 122,900 illegal plants.

Governor Gavin Newsom announced that state law enforcement units conducted operations at various state parks targeting illicit cannabis grow sites. These activities resulted in the seizure of more than 5,200 illegal cannabis plants and 14 firearms.

“We’re committed to supporting the legal cannabis market in California. The illicit market endangers our communities, our environment, and California’s growing legal and safer cannabis industry. California’s legal market also produces billions of dollars for our state economy, and we’ll continue to support the businesses that are engaged in this industry the right way, by taking down the criminal operations undermining their success,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.

Officials from multiple agencies carried out operations with significant results:

- At Saddleback Butte State Park in Antelope Valley: 3,684 plants were destroyed across three grow sites weighing approximately 9,620 pounds. Eight firearms were seized.

- At Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park: 1,572 plants weighing approximately 3,757 pounds were destroyed at two grow sites. Six firearms were seized.

“California State Parks – the nation’s largest state park system – is responsible for protecting some of the state’s most valued natural and cultural resources. Preventing environmental damage caused by illegal cannabis cultivation inside park boundaries and on adjacent private property is a priority for our law enforcement team,” said Armando Quintero, Director of California State Parks.

Participating agencies included the Department of Cannabis Control, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, California Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Bureau of Land Management, California National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, Tulare County Sheriff’s Office among others.

Governor Newsom has directed aggressive targeting against organized criminal enterprises involved in illicit cannabis markets due to threats posed to both legal markets and environmental health through practices such as using illegal pesticides.

“UCETF’s strategic and collaborative approach is important in maintaining the integrity of our state’s cannabis industry,” stated Nicole Elliott, Director of the Department of Cannabis Control.

The UCETF was established in 2022 to enhance coordination between various levels of government regarding cannabis enforcement efforts aimed at consumer safety and environmental protection while combating transnational criminal organizations involved in illegal operations.

This initiative complements work done by entities like California State Park's SET under its Cannabis Watershed Protection Program (CWPP), created to mitigate impacts from illegal grows on watersheds around public lands since its inception in 2019.

To learn more about California's legal cannabis market visit: [cannabis.ca.gov](http://cannabis.ca.gov).