California burns hundreds of tons of illegal cannabis in record-breaking enforcement push, Gov. Newsom celebrates the milestone
California – California’s efforts to stop illegal cannabis activities have reached a new level. Since 2022, state officials say they have seized and burned more than $1.2 billion worth of illegal cannabis. The sharp rise in enforcement results highlights an aggressive, coordinated effort to protect public safety, the environment, and the state’s regulated cannabis market.
Leaders in the state claim that the number of seizures has grown a lot in a short amount of time. Authorities took away an estimated $609 million worth of illegal cannabis items in 2025 alone. This is 18 times more than the amount taken away in 2022. The Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force, a group of agencies working together to make investigations easier and go after big illicit organizations across California, is responsible for these findings.
The task team has been in charge of getting rid of more than 757,000 pounds of illegal cannabis since it started. Over 670 search warrant operations have been carried out by enforcement teams in 36 counties. They have destroyed more than one million cannabis plants, arrested dozens of people, and recovered millions of dollars in cash and hundreds of guns. Officials believe these proceedings are part of a long-term plan to break up criminal networks that work outside the law.
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Throughout 2025, enforcement got stronger, with officers carrying out 48 coordinated actions in 23 counties. With help from more than 60 partner agencies, more than 250 search warrants were served. This led to the seizure of 188 tons of illegal cannabis worth more than $600 million. During the year, the most seizures happened in Los Angeles, Alameda, Monterey, Kern, and Tulare counties.
During these operations, investigators often found other offenses, such as using banned substances, trafficking workers, wage theft, water diversion, and other environmental and regulatory crimes. Officials say these actions are harmful for public health, destroy natural resources, and negatively impact legal cannabis firms that follow state guidelines.
In 2025, there were a few big operations that stood attention. In the spring, a big operation throughout many counties destroyed more than 105,000 plants and tens of thousands of pounds of processed cannabis. Later in the summer, another investigation resulted in the removal of tens of tons of illegal product tied to suspected hazardous pesticide use. Additional efforts in Los Angeles County focused on unlicensed retail and distribution outlets, resulting in the seizure of both cannabis items and large amounts of cash.
State authorities said that the task force was able to do its job effectively because it worked with partners from all levels of government, including state, municipal, and federal. California is getting better at shutting down illegal cannabis businesses and keeping its legal market reputable by working together with experts from several authorities.
