Golden State Today

Since January 2024, California has confiscated illegal cannabis valued at over $191 million, with $70.7 million seized in the past three months. Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force (UCETF) is making significant strides in its efforts to curb illegal cannabis activities across the state.

Governor Newsom emphasized the importance of these actions: "Our communities are safer with over 42,000 pounds of illicit cannabis taken off the streets since the beginning of the year. Through the UCETF, California continues the charge in cracking down on the illicit cannabis market for the safety of consumers and the support of the legal cannabis industry."

The UCETF was established by Governor Newsom in 2022 to enhance coordination between state, local, and federal agencies regarding cannabis enforcement. The task force aims to protect public safety, preserve natural resources, and support California's licensed cannabis market by eliminating illegal operations.

Nathaniel Arnold, Chief of the Law Enforcement Division at the Department of Fish and Wildlife, stated: "UCETF continues to make significant progress by targeting illegal operations that harm California’s environment and natural resources. The dedication and skill of the officers involved in these operations are truly commendable — they’re on the front lines, protecting our natural resources, ensuring public safety, and safeguarding vulnerable workers."

Bill Jones from California's Department of Cannabis Control highlighted recent enforcement actions: "This quarter we targeted unlicensed cannabis operators misusing the California cannabis universal symbol on their packaging. This deceptive practice confuses consumers and puts them at risk. We are stepping up enforcement across the supply chain and shutting these operations down."

In a recent operation announced earlier this month, UCETF seized over $2.3 million worth of illegal cannabis products along with toxic pesticides.

Governor Newsom has directed state agencies to focus on dismantling organized criminal enterprises involved in illegal cannabis markets. These operations not only threaten California's legal market but also pose environmental risks due to unregulated practices.

Additionally, Governor Newsom recently introduced emergency hemp regulations following health incidents linked to intoxicating hemp food and beverage products sold statewide. These regulations aim to ban THC from consumable hemp products to protect consumers.

The Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has been actively enforcing these new regulations by inspecting locations across California. Since implementation, ABC agents have visited 673 sites and confiscated 1,622 illegal hemp products.

Since its inception, UCETF has seized approximately 162 tons of illegal cannabis valued at an estimated $536 million through more than 350 operations statewide.

For more information about California's legal cannabis market and related laws, visit cannabis.ca.gov.