California's Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) announced that seven enforcement actions were carried out against unlicensed cannabis operators throughout the state on June 26.
The statewide efforts resulted in $4.9 million in illegal cannabis being seized during operations led by the Department of Cannabis Control in cooperation with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, City of Los Angeles Department of Building & Safety, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Irvine Police Department.
The warrants were served at multiple locations in Stanislaus, Orange and Los Angeles Counties:
- Irvine (one unlicensed delivery operation)
- Modesto (two unlicensed outdoor cultivation operations)
- North Hollywood (one unlicensed cannabis retail operation)
- Turlock (two outdoor unlicensed cultivation operations and one indoor cultivation operation)
“Illegal cannabis businesses have no place in our communities – they hurt public safety and undercut the folks who are doing it the right way. These operations show how important strong partnerships with local law enforcement are to getting these bad actors out of the market,” said DCC’s Deputy Chief of Law Enforcement, Charles Smith. “We are committed to continuing this important work to support and protect our communities, consumers, and the legal market”.”
Highlights from the enforcement action include:
- 3,520 illegal cannabis plants eradicated
- 608 pounds of illegal cannabis flower seized
- 50 pounds of illegal cannabis vape cartridges seized
- 335 pounds of illegal edibles seized
- 2,944 pounds of illegal cannabis seized
- 4 firearms and 3 assault rifles were seized
- 60 pounds of illicit psilocybin mushrooms
In addition to the seized cannabis and cannabis products, 60 pounds of illicit psilocybin mushrooms were also discovered at the unlicensed retail operation in North Hollywood which was located near a school. The illicit retail operation was illegally wired to bypass utility connections. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power disconnected the power and removed the hazardous wiring from the building.
