California Raids Illegal Cannabis Grow Sites

California law enforcement, guided by Governor Gavin Newsom’s directive, has seized over 5,200 illegal cannabis plants and 14 firearms in operations targeting grow sites near Saddleback Butte State Park and Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park. The operations, part of the Governor's Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce, involved multiple state and federal agencies. At Saddleback Butte, 3,684 plants weighing approximately 9,620 pounds were destroyed, while at Colonel Allensworth, 1,572 plants weighing about 3,757 pounds were eliminated. The seized firearms included several ghost guns and assault weapons. The crackdown aims to protect the environment and support California's legal cannabis industry by combating the illicit market, which endangers communities and utilizes harmful pesticides. Newsom emphasized the dual mission of safeguarding both public health and the legal market’s economic contributions.