CA Authorities Seize 20K+ Illegal Marijuana Plants in Raids

California authorities seized more than 20,000 illegal marijuana plants in a series of related raids last week.

Nationwide, states like California and Colorado have legalized marijuana believing it would help stop illegal drug trafficking, and marijuana’s supporters often claim their laws contain safeguards and oversight to stop criminals.

But legalization has actually emboldened drug cartels and spread illegal marijuana on the black market. The U.S. Department of Justice has said organized crime from Mexico and China may be making millions of dollars from marijuana grown in states like California.

On April 16, California Department of Fish & Wildlife Cannabis Enforcement Program officers seized more than 20,000 illegal marijuana plants at three different locations. Law enforcement told the media all three locations also had foreign-labeled, illegal pesticides — something that has been a serious problem at other illicit marijuana grow sites.

All told, California has seized more than $1.2 billion in illegal cannabis since 2022.

In Maine, authorities have said there are hundreds of black market growing operations connected to Chinese organized crime groups.

Oklahoma’s lax marijuana laws have created similar issues, with law enforcement alleging that 40% of America’s illicit marijuana has come from legal grow sites in Oklahoma.

Major drug trafficking corridors pass through Arkansas, and as a result, the Arkansas State Police routinely intercept marijuana from other states that appears to be intended for the black market.

Besides fueling organized crime, marijuana’s legalization has also jeopardized public health in America.

Yale reports roughly 30% of current cannabis users now meet the criteria for addiction, and researchers writing in JAMA found nearly one in three “medical” marijuana users may suffer from cannabis use disorder.

THC — the main psychoactive substance in marijuana — has been tied to everything from heart disease and cancer to stroke, mental illness, and birth defects.

In fact, researchers now say marijuana use doubles a person’s risk of death from heart disease.

All of this underscores what we have said for years: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.