14 Torrance Dally Breeze and DailyBreeze.com | Section A | Sunday, July 27, 2025
FOCUS, CANNABIS
Recreational cannabis sales began 7 years ago. Many buyers and POT PROBLEMS sellers have played by the rules, but the illegal growth and sale of the plant continue to undermine those obeying the law.
By KURT SNIBBE | [email protected]
Enforcement
The Illicit market continues to account for about 60% of such task forces in the U.S. But things have changed in that harms consumers and undercuts the regulated the cannabis consumption in California. the past couple years. Another new effort was organized cannabis market in Callfornia. UCET receives support by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2022 and is called the Unified from the Californla Department of Tax and Fee Adminis- Californla's excise tax of 15% rose to 19% on July 1. The Cannabis Enforcement Task Force. The UCETF has been tration, Californla Department of Correctlons and tax hike took effect after the California Senate rejected a charged by the governor to better allgn state efforts and Rehabilitation, California Department of Parks and proposal to freeze the cannabis excise tax rate in the
increase cannabis enforcement coordination between Recreation, Callfornla Department of Pesticide Regula- recent budget trailer bill.
state, local and federal partners. UCET's enforcement tion, Employment Development Department and Since its establishment in 1983, California's Campaign actlons protect consumer and public safety, safeguard California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Against Marijuana Planting has involved more than 110 the environment, and deprive illegal cannabis operators law enforcement agencies, making it one of the largest and transnational criminal organizations of Illicit revenue arbon st:
7 S10W0
Reported annual eradication of plants by agencies in California In 2022, the DEA eradice 5 tions in California were 84%
In millions of its total eradications.
4 3
2 1
0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Federal (DEA) State (CDFW) State (CAMP/EPIC)
State (DCC/CDFA) State (UCETF) Local
Reported annual pounds selzed by agencles In Californla 1,000
In thousands of pounds
than the total U.S. average. DEA efforts in California ayricuiture (CUrA) and Calitornia's Unified Cannabis higher rate compared to the rest of the U.S.
have increased disproportionately in recent years Enforcement Task Force (UCETF), the Department of relative to the rest of the U.S. From 2011-2016, DEA The charts above show annual plant eradications and Justice's Campaign against Marijuana Planting (CAMP) eradications in California were 62% of national seized cannabis products in California reported by the and Eradication and Prevention of Illicit Cannabis eradications. From 2019-2022, they accounted for DEA, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (EPIC). 84% of total eradications. This could imply that (CDFW), DCC and California Department of Food and DEA data is only available up to 2022.
UCET eradications and seizures were low 30,000 Plants seized by county July 1, 2024 to plants and 19,000 pounds) in 2022, the first year June 1, 2025 by the Department of the task force operated; eradications increased to Cannabls Control 318,000 plants and 190,000 pounds in 2023, and None
there were 179,000 plants eradicated and 115,000 DCC's Law Enforcement Division total data for Up to 4,999
pounds of product seized in 2024. UCETF continues California from July 1, 2024, through June 1, 2025:
to expand its operations. 5,000-10,000
Estimated value of cannabis seized: $315,836,629
Number of illegal plants eradicated: 175,554 10,001-25,000 UCET Numbers from July 1, 2024, to June 1, Pounds of cannabis seized: 169,347 2025 25,001 and up
Search warrants served: 187
Estimated value of cannabis seized:
$366,783,409.83 Firearms seized: 88
Total cannabis seized: 220,184.45 pounds Money seized: $680,954 Plants eradicated: 343,102 Arrests: 167
Arrests: 24 Number of locations red tagged: 73
Cash seized: $550.017 Number of toxics present at locations: 24 Firearms seized: 44
Top 5 countles for plants seized
1. Stanislaus 29,457
2. Los Angeles 29,140
3. Alameda 28.709
4. Nevada 21,497
5. Orange 13,286
The downside
years.
"A 25% tax hike on an Industry that's barely hanging on According to a recent press release from the Cannabis In response, the California Cannabis Operators Associa- is a full-blown disaster, and absolutely should have been Business Times, California's legal cannabis market has tion, the state's largest cannabls industry group, has avoided," Haney said. "Raising this tax is a slap in the been in steep decline since 2021, with licensed sales launched an advocacy campaign In support of Assembly face of small cannabis businesses who simply can't dropping 34% while illicit operators control an estimat- Bill 564, sponsored by Matt Haney, D-San Francisco, afford it and are competing with an illegal market that is ed 60% of total market activity. More cannabis licenses urging legislators not to raise taxes on consumers and booming." are now inactive or surrendered (10,828) than active patients. A.B. 564 would reset the excise tax at the (8,514), representing the loss of 7,100 small farms, The bill passed the Assembly with strong bipartisan previous rate of 15%. support and is now pending in the California Senate. thousands of brands, and nearly 22,000 jobs over two
Cannabis status by state
Taxable cannabis sales in
California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996. Since then, the medical use of cannabls has been legalized in 40 California dropped to $1.09 states. The recreational or adult use of cannabis has been approved in 24 states. Pennsylvania is could be the 25th state later this year. billion for the first quarter of Recreatinnal 2025, down 30% from their
Cannabls status by state
Taxable cannabls sales In
California was the first state to legalize medical marljuana In 1996. Since then, the medical use of cannabls has been legalized in 40 Callfornia dropped to $1.09 states. The recreational or adult use of cannabis has been approved In 24 states. Pennsylvania Is could be the 25th state later this year. billion for the first quarter of Recreational 2025, down 30% from their
Medical only Fully Illegal peak In early 2021 and the
lowest quarterly sales in five
years.
In 2023, Californla retall
Ohlo, stores sold $5.14 billion
Delaware, worth of cannabls products,
Rhode Island which would be the
Alaska and
28 Hawall second-highest agricultural
Minnesota In commodity after dalry and
2023 before grapes.
Sources: California Department of Cannabis Control, state attornay general's office, Cannabls Business Times