California Continues Unregulated Cannabis Busts

California law enforcement officials have eradicated 953,000 cannabis plants from 345 grows throughout the state as part of their Campaign Against Marijuana Planting Program, the City News Service reports. State Attorney General Xavier Becerra said the crackdown has also led to the seizure of 168 weapons.

This year, the CAMP teams – which includes federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies – have served more than 120 search warrants. As of July, the California Bureau of Cannabis Control and state law enforcement agencies had seized a combined $30 million in cannabis products, cash, and weapons.

“Illegal cannabis grows are devastating our communities. Criminals who disregard life, poison our waters, damage our public lands and weaponize the illegal cannabis black market will be brought to justice.” – Becerra, during a press conference on Monday, via the City News Service

Becerra’s announcement came the same day as the Kern County Sheriff’s Office said they eradicated more than 10 million cannabis plants in the county valued at $1 million. The sheriff’s office said the plants were “grown under the guise of legitimate hemp production” on 459 acres.

“Preliminary testing showed the levels of THC in these fields were well over the legal limit for industrial hemp production and were in fact cannabis,” the agency said in a Facebook post.

A September United Cannabis Business Association report found that there are about 2,835 unlicensed cannabis companies in California, with just 873 licensed operators and the state’s legalization market has been marred by lower-than-anticipated sales – partly due to high tax rates – all of which has led to officials cracking down on illegal and unlicensed operators.