Despite the growing number of legal cannabis dispensaries in California, a thriving black market continues to operate in the state. Recent data from Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office reveals alarming statistics about illegal cannabis cultivation in California.
So far this year, law enforcement’s Eradication and Prevention of Illicit Cannabis (EPIC) program has seized an astonishing 774,829 illegally grown cannabis plants. In addition, more than 100,000 pounds of cannabis ready for the black market were confiscated. Officials estimate that the value of this contraband exceeds $353 million.
In comparison to Riverside County, which reported the seizure of 136,601 plants from 79 sites, San Diego’s numbers may seem small but are still significant. In San Diego, EPIC eradicated 9,301 plants from seven sites.
Notably absent from the list of counties where EPIC operates is Humboldt County, known as the heart of America’s cannabis cultivation. NBC 7 has reached out to the Attorney General’s office for comment but has yet to receive a response.
Attorney General Bonta stated, “The EPIC program was created to address the broader issues of the underground cannabis market.” He emphasized the need to combat the environmental damage and economic consequences of unregulated cannabis cultivation. Bonta also raised concerns about labor exploitation in the illegal market, where workers often endure unsafe conditions and mistreatment.
EPIC’s recent operations also yielded seizures in several other California counties:
Alameda: 1 site, 751 plants
Butte: 5 sites, 4,397 plants
Colusa: 3 sites, 10 plants
Contra Costa: 2 sites, 5,010 plants
El Dorado: 8 sites, 2,174 plants
Fresno: 31 sites, 52,796 plants
Glenn: 1 site, 747 plants
Kern: 60 sites, 89,819 plants
Kings: 1 site, 539 plants
Lake: 48 sites, 42,776 plants
Lassen: 1 site, 7,359 plants
Los Angeles: 3 sites, 3,684 plants
Madera: 3 sites, 1,230 plants
Mariposa: 2 sites, 1,368 plants
Nevada: 33 sites, 28,428 plants
Sacramento: 13 sites, 46,042 plants
San Bernardino: 23 sites, 27,845 plants
Santa Barbara: 1 site, 362 plants
Santa Clara: 2 sites, 1,012 plants
Shasta: 67 sites, 51,289 plants
Siskiyou: 98 sites, 67,943 plants
Stanislaus: 6 sites, 5,103 plants
Tulare: 7 sites, 5,468 plants
Tuolumne: 2 sites, 7,637 plants
Ventura: 3 sites, 7,891 plants
Yuba: 2 sites, 1,164 plants
Interestingly, while Humboldt County did not make the list, neighboring Mendocino County reported 133,702 plants seized from 116 sites, and Trinity County had 32,381 plants eradicated from 38 sites.
Officials also noted that many illegal grows were located in state parks, raising concerns about irrigation runoff that could harm local waterways and ecosystems.
“Illegal cannabis cultivation poses a serious threat to our natural resources,” said Jeremy Stinson, Assistant Chief of California State Parks Law Enforcement. He stressed that protecting these resources is crucial for Californians and future generations.
During EPIC’s operations, agents found more than just cannabis. They seized 201 weapons and containers of hazardous chemicals, including carbofuran, methyl parathion, aluminum phosphate, and zinc phosphide. The use of carbofuran is particularly alarming as it is banned in the U.S. due to its severe health risks. According to the news release, “Carbofuran remains on plants after application and seeps into soil and nearby water sources,” posing a danger to public health.
This growing trend of illegal cannabis cultivation highlights the ongoing challenges California faces in regulating the cannabis market effectively.
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