WASHINGTON, DC- DECEMBER 19 Metropolitan Police Departments narcotics unit and federal authorities seized approximately 80 pounds of methamphetamine, 9.6. kilograms of cocaine, 1.25 gallons of PCP. 23.5 pounds of marijuana, heroin and MDMA/ecstasy. The drugs were purchased and seized by the detectives in the investigation and were on display for a press conference at the Metropolitan Police Headquarters in Washington, D.C. on December 19, 2011. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Cathy L.Lanier and members from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced today the arrests of 70 suspects for the possession and distribution of firearms and narcotics with a street value of more than $7.1 million. (Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Sacramento, California – California officials have intensified efforts to stamp out illegal cannabis operations, announcing Tuesday that law enforcement has seized nearly 270,000 pounds of unlicensed cannabis and eradicated over 260,000 plants since the start of 2025—an estimated street value of $480 million.
The sweeping campaign, led by the state’s Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), reflects a broader strategy to reinforce California’s embattled legal cannabis industry. In total, 111 coordinated operations have been carried out this year in partnership with federal, state, and local agencies. Alongside the cannabis seizures, authorities reported 112 arrests, the confiscation of 52 firearms, and more than $230,000 in cash.
The scale of the enforcement is notable, particularly given the context. California’s legal cannabis market—still the largest in the world—is under pressure. Licensed growers and retailers face high taxes, burdensome regulations, and declining wholesale prices, even as the illicit market continues to undercut legal competitors with cheaper, untaxed products. For many in the legal industry, enforcement against illegal operators isn’t just about justice—it’s about survival.
Governor Gavin Newsom framed the crackdown as essential to protecting legitimate businesses and the broader integrity of the market. “We owe it to our businesses and consumers to take down these bad actors every chance we can,” he said in a statement accompanying the announcement.
Since 2019, the DCC has carried out more than 1,200 enforcement operations, seizing nearly 1.6 million pounds of illegal cannabis and eradicating close to 2.7 million plants, with an estimated total value of $2.8 billion. Still, the illegal market persists in both rural grow hubs and urban retail fronts, fueled by demand and gaps in local regulation.
To reinforce long-term enforcement, the state has begun allocating cannabis tax revenues toward civil and criminal investigations. Local jurisdictions—particularly those that allow retail cannabis sales—are now eligible for Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) grant funding to support local enforcement against illegal activity.
The state’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force, created by Newsom to coordinate enforcement across jurisdictions, has also played a key role in streamlining efforts between state and federal agencies.
Despite the ongoing challenges, the state points to signs of progress. A recent market outlook report from the DCC indicated that prices in the legal market have stabilized, licensed sales are trending upward, and consumer confidence in tested, regulated products remains strong.
Whether these gains can hold in the face of persistent illicit competition remains to be seen. But for now, California is leaning hard on enforcement as it tries to balance economic growth, public safety, and the evolving promise of a regulated cannabis economy.
