California doubles down on illegal cannabis operations
July 25, 2023
SUSAN WOOD
THE NORTH BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL
July 13, 2023
California doubles down on illegal cannabis operations
And the drug war continues.
Doubling its collections in 2023, the state has seized more than 66,000 pounds of cannabis tied to the illicit trade for the second quarter ending June 30, the California Department of Cannabis Control reported.
The statewide retail value ($109.2 million) of the illegal product also amounts to a 104%increase from the previous quarter. Firearm seizures also went up, from four to19 in the same period.
The results weremade through the efforts of the United Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce, anensemble formed last year of two-dozen law enforcement agencies statewide,including Fish and Wildlife, as well as a Homeland Security detail. TheNorthern California operations focus on Sacramento, along with pockets in theCentral Valley and the East Bay. No busts were conducted in the North Bay,according to the report.
But that doesn’tmean they haven’t occurred. Two years ago, California State Parks reported itseized an illegal grow site at the Sonoma Coast State Park in Bodega Bay. Thebust netted two arrests, 1,500 plants, 1,000 pounds of trash, pollutants andwater diversion lines. Two men were arrested on suspicion of cannabiscultivation, gun possession and water diversion involving channeling water fromUpper Willow Creek to the site.
The united taskforce often taps the state Department of Toxic Substances Control to assist inefforts related to pollutants often left behind at these grow sites.
“Through ourexpertise in addressing environmental concerns, including contamination,hazardous waste and banned pesticides, we collaborate to eliminate the adverseimpact of the illegal cannabis market,” its Chief Investigator Hansen Pang saidin a statement. In turn, he added, ridding the environment of the illegalsuppliers helps promote “responsible growth of the cannabis industry.”
Support for law enforcement
Most legalstakeholders in the cannabis business agree that any effort to stomp outillicit suppliers is a win-win for the overall industry. While the legalcultivation market sat on the verge of a potential collapse in the last fewyears since growers produced a glut of product with not enough places to sellit, many legal farms blamed the competition on the illicit market.
The state’s taskwas simple. Get rid of the illegal growers, producers and sellers or face thepotential of the legal market imploding.
But for the leadagency working alongside the state Department of Cannabis Control, Fish andWildlife, the benefit needs to mean more than the economics.
“Our mission isto protect habitat,” said Frank Imbrie, California Fish and Wildlife Serviceassistant chief of law enforcement of the cannabis program. Imbrie wasreferring to the grow sites that illegally obtain water for the crops. Theproblem is exacerbated in drought years.
“In large part,illicit grows are pulling water illegally. This has a direct impact on habitat.They also use pesticides that cause contamination,” he added.
When asked howmany busts would have to occur to make a significant dent in the illegal trade,Imbrie admitted the number is “difficult to quantify” at this stage.
“Right now, weknow we have a big problem on our hands,” he said
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This bust of an illegal cannabis farm(aka grow) in Sonoma Coast State Park, reported Aug. 17, 2021, netted 1,500plants. (Doug Johnson photo)
