SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that California’s cannabis enforcement efforts led to the seizure and destruction of over $222 million worth of illegal cannabis from July to September 2025. Partners across state government, a part of the California Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF) worked together to seize illegal cannabis, plants and firearms from unlawful cannabis operations across California.
California remains committed to protecting consumers, public safety, and supporting our legal cannabis market. These enforcement actions send a clear message: Illegal operations will not be tolerated.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
The largest enforcement action of the quarter took place in July in Monterey County, where UCETF partners led by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department dismantled a major illegal cultivation site. In the weeks following the operation, Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), California and local authorities destroyed more than 38 tons of cannabis, valued at over $125 million—one of the most significant cannabis enforcement efforts in state history.
“The impact from illegal cannabis operators is real,” said DCC Director Nicole Elliott. “They do not just break the law, they put our neighborhoods, environment, and licensed cannabis businesses at risk. These enforcement actions demonstrate continued dedication to protecting our communities and building a legal and safe cannabis market California consumers can trust.”
In August, UCETF partners led by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) eradicated nearly 27,000 illegal cannabis plants valued at more than $22 million in Los Angeles County, detaining 20 suspects and seizing toxic pesticides imported from China. In Napa County, California State Parks officers halted a water diversion in a state park linked to illegal cultivation and, during an unrelated emergency, rescued a kidnapped child. The swift response ensured the child’s safe recovery, and the arrest of a suspect wanted for multiple violent felonies.
Top Five Counties by Enforcement Impact
| County | Cannabis Destroyed (lbs) | Estimated Value | Plants Eradicated |
| Monterey | 76,166.35 | $125,674,477 | 122,445 |
| Los Angeles | 16,340.5 | $26,961,825 | 32,411 |
| Kern | 11,123.77 | $18,363,721 | 21,762 |
| Shasta | 10,671 | $17,607,150 | 20,739 |
| Alameda | 10,156.33 | $16,757,944 | 20,288 |
This quarter’s enforcement success was the result of a coordinated multiagency effort involving dozens of state, local, and federal partners. In addition to DCC and CDFW, participating state departments included: California State Parks, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), the California National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, the California Department of Justice (CalDOJ), the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), the State Water Resources Control Board, and the California Employment Development Department (EDD). Their combined expertise and resources were critical in identifying, investigating, and dismantling illegal cannabis operations across the state.
“Illegal cannabis grow operations take—and often contaminate—natural resources that California’s fish and wildlife depend on for their survival,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “California is fortunate to have so many partners working in coordination to dismantle these unlicensed commercial grow sites statewide and prioritize both our public safety and the health of our environment.”