California Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced that $316,000,000 worth of illicit cannabis had been seized during the first three months of 2025. State officials said that the seizures showed their commitment to legalizing cannabis. It’s possible the seizure value is overstated, since the state has set a $2,600 price for a pound of cannabis when it usually costs around $1,000.
These are the stats for the first three months of 2018.
- 212,681 Cannabis plants illegally eradicated
- 120,307 Pounds of illegal marijuana seized
- 99 Warrants are served
- 35 firearms seized
- 29 What are the arrests?
- $474,462 cash seized
Nathaniel Arnold of California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Law Enforcement Division said, “This taskforce continues to make significant progress in disrupting the illegal cannabis operators and supply chain.” The UCETF’s achievements demonstrate the dedication and commitment of all agencies in the taskforce.
The Governor’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force (UCETF), the Department of Fish & Wildlife (DFW), and the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) all worked together for the task force.
In a press release, the UCETF stated that they seized cannabis without a license worth a total $67.258,232 during the first three months of this year. Task force enforcement included the following:
- 19 Search warrants are served
- 77,923 Cannabis plants illegally eradicated
- 40,747 Pounds of illegal marijuana seized
- $330,808 cash seized
UCETF’s enforcement activities in the first quarter of 2018 included Department of Cannabis Control and California Departments of Fish and Wildlife and Corrections and Rehabilitation. Employment Development Department and California Department of Tax and Fee Administration were also involved.
DFW’s enforcement activities for the first three quarters of 2025 include:
- $97,476,308 Cannabis illegal worth seized
- 47 Search warrants are served
- 101,473 To eradicate illegal plants
- 8,340 Pounds of illegal marijuana seized
- 11 firearms seized
- 9 Arrests
- $27,073 in cash seized
DCC’s enforcement effort for the first three quarters of 2025 includes:
- $151,752,966 The value of the illegal cannabis confiscated
- 33 Warrants are served
- 33,285 The illegal plant is eradicated
- 71,220 Pounds of illegal marijuana seized
- 24 firearms seized
- 20 Arrests
- $116,581 in cash seized
Bill Jones, the Chief of DCC’s Law Enforcement Division, stated that “we remain unwavering” in our aggressive and strategic approach to reduce illicit cannabis activity. By staying on top of threats and quickly dismantling illicit operations, we’re driving up the costs of doing business and protecting California’s legitimate industry.