Anonymous
By the California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW)
Taking aggressive action to protect communities, consumers and the environment alike, Governor Gavin Newsom has directed the creation of a new multi-agency, cross-jurisdictional taskforce of enforcement agencies designed to better coordinate agencies combatting illegal cannabis operations and transnational criminal organizations.
This new “Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce,” which has been actively working since late summer, is co-chaired by the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and is being coordinated by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) through its Homeland Security Division. The taskforce has been charged by the Governor to better align state efforts and increase enforcement coordination between state, local and federal partners.
“The State of California is committed to combatting illicit commercial cannabis activity which is causing pervasive harm to California communities, the environment, consumers and legal cannabis businesses,” said Nicole Elliott, Director of DCC.
“We cannot allow harmful, illicit cannabis operations to lay waste to the environment or threaten our communities,” said Mark Ghilarducci, Director of the Cal OES and the Governor’s Homeland Security Advisor. “We are bringing together the combined law enforcement resources of our state, local and federal agencies in a coordinated enforcement action against these bad actors and criminal organizations.”
“California has an abundance of public lands set aside for conservation, recreational use and the enjoyment of the people of this state,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “Unfortunately, criminal organizations are impacting these areas by exploiting some of our most pristine public lands and wildlife habitats as grow sites for cannabis.”
Since its inception, the taskforce has been actively coordinating with federal, state, local and tribal agencies to disrupt this illegal market, including:
- Combatting the non-linear threat of transnational crime that extends to areas of California beyond the border and into some of most rural parts of the state.
- Establishing a new data sharing agreement which allows state and local enforcement officials to more broadly share information and cross-match data across jurisdictions.
- Leveraging and better aligning the authorities and legal provisions of federal, state and local law enforcement and regulatory agencies in conducting search warrants, indictments and maximizing arrests and prosecution of perpetrators, while also maximizing administrative, regulatory and civil penalties for bad actors.
- Disrupting human traffickers and illegal firearm and drug smugglers.
- Interdicting illegal cannabis shipments crossing California’s borders.
- Coordinating with local police chiefs, sheriffs and federal officials to deploy personnel and equipment where needed.
By investigating, removing and reclaiming illegal grow sites as well as shutting down illegal manufacturing, distribution and retail operations, and by apprehending and applying meaningful repercussions to offenders and traffickers, state, local and federal law enforcement agencies are protecting consumer and public safety, safeguarding the environment, and depriving illegal cannabis operators and transnational criminal organizations of illicit revenue that undercuts the regulated cannabis market in California.
Large scale, illicit outdoor cannabis cultivation can be harmful to the environment. Non-compliant cultivation sites can negatively affect wildlife, vegetation, water, soil, and other natural resources when they utilize chemicals, fertilizers and terracing, and even poach local wild animals. Illegal cannabis cultivation results in the chemical contamination and alteration of watersheds, diversion of natural water courses, elimination of native vegetation, wildfire hazards, poaching of wildlife and harmful disposal of garbage, non-biodegradable materials and human waste.
Untested cannabis products also pose safety hazards to consumers, while all illegal activity undercuts the regulated market and hurts licensed cannabis business owners.
In addition to the three agencies participating as partners in the taskforce include:
- California Agricultural Labor Relations Board
- California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency
- California Environmental Protection Agency
- California Police Chiefs Association
- California State Sheriffs Association
- California Highway Patrol
- California National Guard
- California State Transportation Agency
- California Franchise Tax Board
- California Department of Food and Agriculture
- California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
- California Department of Justice
- California Department of Parks and Recreation
- California Department of Pesticide Regulation
- California Department of Public Health
- California Department of Tax and Fee Administration
- California Department of Toxic Substances Control
- California Employment Development Department
- California Department of Occupational Health and Safety
- California Labor and Workforce Development Agency
- California Government Operations Agency
- California Water Resources Control Board
- High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program
What an absolute waste of CA taxpayer money Gavin! Makes absolutely no sense. Even here on Edhat no one (yet) supports this lame idea. Hey folks, next time he comes up for election, ask yourselves if you think he’s a good candidate.
All the years “weed” has been grown/used and (now), in part, the “Untested cannabis products also pose safety hazards to consumers – .” The full paragraph that includes this quoted statement is a long winded way of saying the government isn’t getting their cut of the proceeds.
yeah we dont need another committee, organization, government entity doing this. we have authorities that already handle this. nice waste of tax $ Gavin. While I support you on most of your choices, this one is not one that I support. This is a massive overreach and over reaction to appease some. Do we do this for people doing home brews and selling a few bottles to their friends? Do we do this for local farmers that aren’t “registered” somehow? What about the food vendors that push their carts around the west side. Why isn’t there a task force sent out to harass them? (not that I would ever want this!!! but it’s the point….over reach). Californians grow weed. Cartels do not bring weed up here, they know it’s legal here and they know the market is FLOODED with high quality and inexpensive weed. They are actively smuggling in heroin, meth, cocaine, and fentanyl. The “war on drugs” is over as far as weed goes, but you politicians just cant seem to acknowledge that and just let it go (or let it grow!)
Oh it’s unregulated weed! So what. It’s weed. It’s a flower. Its the same as “non regulated” weed. No different.
Agreed, Zero. Leave the plant alone. No one is dying from weed. Who even buys “illegal” weed in CA anyway? Why? I know people who grow their own or for friends, but there just isn’t a large enough market for “non regulated” cannabis to support large scale illegal grows. Just leave it alone.
LOL 2 people were quickly incensed by my support of ending the War on Cannabis…. cute.
Sounds good to me. These are huge sophisticated operations in places like Los Padres National Forest. They divert large amounts of water, use pesticides, and are guarded by guys with automatic weapons who are supported by the drug cartels. Their markets are not only in California.
Weed pours over the border for decades via cartels
Now it’s called a non linear threat of transnationals
Governmental word salad