CALIFORNIA – Continuing to protect public safety, safeguard natural resources, and advance the integrity of the licensed cannabis market, the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF) seized more than $312 million in unlicensed cannabis during its first calendar year of operation.
Among the highlights from the operations in 2023 was the seizure of almost 190,000 pounds of illegal cannabis, the eradication of almost 318,000 plants and the seizure of 119 illegally-possessed firearms.
“California is effectively decreasing the illegal cannabis market by leveraging the strengths and knowledge of over 20 state agencies and departments alongside our local and federal partners. The UCETF’s progress in 2023 reflects California’s ongoing commitment to disrupting and dismantling illegal cannabis activity,” stated Director Nicole Elliott of Department of Cannabis Control (DCC). “I look forward to working with all our partners in 2024 to build on this progress.”
“Since its inception in late 2022, California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce has hit the ground running with year-round operations that spanned from the Oregon state line all the way down to San Diego,” said California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Charlton H. Bonham. “We’ve sent a strong message that illegal operations that harm our natural resources, threaten the safety of workers, and put consumer health at risk have no place in California. While there is more work to be done, we made progress last year and I look forward to going further alongside our county, state, and federal partners.”
The results of UCETF’s FY 2023 and Q4 2023 enforcement actions are:
| UCETF Operations | Q4 2023 | CY 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Search Warrants Served | 24 | 188 |
| Pounds of Cannabis Seized | 13,393.65 | 189,854.02 |
| Retail Value of Cannabis Products Seized | $22,294,571.41 | $312,880,014.35 |
| Cannabis Plants Eradicated | 20,320 | 317,834 |
| Firearms Seized | 26 | 119 |
| Money Seized | $35,195.25 | $223,809 |
In addition to releasing the Q4 and yearly totals for 2023, the taskforce announced the top 5 counties for enforcement activity (according to value of cannabis seized) in calendar year 2023. They are:
| County | Value of Cannabis Seized |
|---|---|
| Alameda | $77,828,338.50 |
| Siskiyou | $70,747,875.00 |
| Mendocino | $48,073,113.00 |
| Los Angeles | $28,317,139.69 |
| Kern | $21,578,438.25 |
Since inception, UCETF has seized $317,578,792.29 in unlicensed cannabis through 218 search warrants. The taskforce has also eradicated 347,321 plants and seized 128 firearms.
Created by Governor Newsom in 2022, the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce has been charged by the Governor to further align state efforts and increase cannabis enforcement coordination between state, local and federal partners. UCETF’s enforcement actions protect consumer and public safety, safeguard the environment, and deprive illegal cannabis operators and transnational criminal organizations of illicit revenue that harms consumers and undercuts the regulated cannabis market in California.
The taskforce is co-chaired by the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and coordinated by the Homeland Security Division of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). The taskforce includes more than two dozen local, state, and federal partners working together to disrupt the illegal cannabis market.
The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) licenses and regulates commercial cannabis activity within California. DCC works closely with all stakeholders, including businesses and local jurisdictions, to create a sustainable legal cannabis industry and a safe and equitable marketplace. DCC develops and implements progressive cannabis policies with robust protections for public health, safety, and the environment.
To learn more about the California cannabis market, state licenses or laws, visit www.cannabis.ca.gov
Contra Costa County Cannabis Related Stories
- Oct 9 – Brentwood Set to Discuss Allowing Cannabis Delivery to Patients
- Sept, 27 –$5.9 million in Cannabis Product Seized in Brentwood and Oakley
- Aug 18 – Martinez Police Fire Shots at Cannabis Dispensary Burglary Suspects
- July 8 – CA Cannabis Taskforce Seizes over $109M in Unlicensed Cannabis Products
- June 23 – $15.3 Million of Illegal Cannabis Seized in Contra Costa County
- May 13 – Cannabis Operations in Antioch and Brentwood Valued at $3.1 Million
1 comment
Oh hey look- my neighbors house in the picture. Those folks are out of jail by the way. They were out that same day they got pinched. Now the city is allowing them to fix their house(s) to get the red tags removed. I totally trust the owners to do this right thing. /S Great job, team Co Co!
Comments are closed.