“The legal cannabis market brings billions of dollars to our state’s economy, helping to sustain California’s position as the fifth largest economy in the world. We will not tolerate illegal operations that threaten our economy and the health and well-being of California communities.”
– Governor Gavin Newsom
About UCETF
The Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF) was launched in 2022 by Governor Gavin Newsom to strengthen enforcement coordination across California’s state, local, and federal agencies. UCETF brings together more than two dozen partner organizations committed to protecting public health and safety, preserving environmental resources, and upholding the integrity of California’s regulated cannabis market.
The taskforce is co-chaired by the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).
Objectives
- Enforcement: Investigate and dismantle illicit cannabis operations across California.
- Accountability: Pursue criminal, civil, and administrative actions to uphold the law.
- Intelligence: Collect, analyze, and share actionable intelligence through partner collaboration.
- Communications: Share public-facing materials that promote awareness of UCETF’s efforts.
Results to date
Snapshot of UCETF’s impact to date (updated quarterly).
- Search Warrants Served: 580+
- Counties Covered: 28
- Pounds of Illicit Cannabis Seized & Destroyed: 325 tons
- Illicit packaging seized: 2.2 million
- • Estimated Value of Illicit Product: $913m
Data last reviewed: 10/1/2025
Impacts of the illicit cannabis market
Illicit cannabis operations pose serious risks to communities, workers, the environment, and the state’s legal cannabis industry.
Community and consumer safety
Unregulated cannabis product and operations may contain toxic pesticides, mold, or contaminants that endanger consumers and public health.
Worker exploitation
Many illicit operations involve unsafe working conditions, wage theft, and exploitation of vulnerable individuals.
Environmental damage
Illicit grows cause deforestation; divert water; and pollute soil, waterways, and wildlife habitats with toxic chemicals and trash.
Economic harm
Tax-evading sellers undercut legal operators, destabilizing the regulated market and harming local economies.
Agency partners
UCETF coordinates with more than two dozen state, local, and federal partners spanning public safety, environmental protection, labor enforcement, and tax compliance.*
View all participating agencies
- Business & Consumer Services and Housing Agency
- Department of Cannabis Control
- California Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of Pesticide Regulation
- Department of Toxic Substances Control
- State Water Resources Control Board
- California Natural Resources Agency
- Department of Fish and Wildlife
- California State Parks
- Department of Forest and Fire Protection
- Labor & Workforce Development Agency
- Occupational Health and Safety (DOSH)
- Employment Development Department
- Department of Industrial Relations
- Agricultural Labor Relations Board
- Government Operations Agency
- Franchise Tax Board
- Department of Tax and Fee Administration
- California Health and Human Services
- Department of Public Health
- California State Transportation Agency
- California Highway Patrol
- Office of Emergency Services
- National Guard
- Department of Insurance
- Department of Justice
- Department of Food and Agriculture
- California Police Chiefs Association
- California State Sheriffs’ Association
- High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA)
*Not all cannabis-related investigations and enforcement activities in California require full coordination with UCETF. Partner agencies lead and support UCETF operations but also may conduct independent investigations and enforcement activities throughout California, as part of their core work, that play a significant role in dismantling the illicit cannabis market in California.
News and media
Official communications, media coverage, and media contacts.
Media coverage
- Nearly 400 pounds of cannabis seized from illegal dispensaries in Fullerton
OC Register | Andrea Klick
October 23, 2025 - Monterey County tops statewide $222 million illegal cannabis bust; Newsom’s office says
KSBW | Ricardo Tovar
October 21, 2025 - California Seizes Nearly Half a Billion Dollars in Illegal Marijuana in Just Three Months
Marijuana Herald | Anthony Martinelli
July 11, 2025
Official press releases
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California seizes over $316M worth of unlicensed cannabis products in Q1 2025
-
California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force seizes over $254M worth of unlicensed cannabis products in 2024
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California’s cannabis task force seizes over $19 million in illegal cannabis and products in recent operations
Media contacts
- Department of Cannabis Control: Office of Public Affairs, (916) 883-9693, press@cannabis.ca.gov
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Sarah Sol, Office of Communications, Education and Outreach, (916) 207-7891, Sarah.Sol@wildlife.ca.gov
Contact and reporting
Report illegal cannabis grows on public lands
Call 888-334-2258 or text TIP411 (847411). You can also submit a tip through the CDFW Tip Portal.
Learn how to recognize illegal cultivation on public land.
File a complaint against licensed or unlicensed cannabis businesses
Use the DCC Complaint Portal to report businesses suspected of operating outside the law.
General UCETF inquiries
For all other UCETF-related inquiries, contact info@cannabis.ca.gov.
