LOS ANGELES – On January 30, 2020, the Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) and the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Cannabis Enforcement Unit (CEU) announced enforcement action on two unlicensed cannabis retailers operating in Southern California.

On Tuesday, January 28, CEU served a search warrant on an illegal cannabis business “Garden of Faith” in Lake Forest.  The enforcement operation resulted in the seizure of $400,000 in cannabis products and illicit vape pens. Additionally, $55,724 in cash was seized at the scene.

The week prior, CEU and the Los Angeles Police Department also served a search warrant on “High Society Wellness Center”, an unlicensed retailer in Los Angeles. The enforcement operation resulted in the seizure of $113,220 in cannabis products, which included 188 illicit vape cartridges.

The combined value of illegal cannabis products and cash seized from these unlicensed operators totaled more than $570,000.

All commercial cannabis activity in California must be conducted on a premise with a valid license issued by the appropriate state cannabis licensing authority. Manufacturing, distributing or selling cannabis goods without a state license or at a location that is not licensed is a violation of state law.

“Consumers should be sure to verify a cannabis retailer’s license going to the website CApotchek.com,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “Licensed cannabis retailers are complying with the rules and regulations, so consumers know what they are getting.  State investigators are working to weed out those running cannabis operations illegally in order to protect consumers as well as the legitimate operations.”