“Illegal cannabis cultivation operations are not only working against those operations that have the proper licenses and permits, they often times use illegal products on their plants, that are harmful to humans and fish and wildlife.  We have to protect consumers, the environment and licensed operators.”  – CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

MONTEREY COUNTY – On June 14, 2021, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office announced that the District Attorney’s Office’s Bureau of Investigations, in cooperation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and other state and local agencies, spent eight days conducting cannabis enforcement operations targeting unlicensed cannabis cultivations in Monterey County. In total, these operations resulted in the eradication and destruction of more than 7,000 lbs. of illegal cannabis plants and nearly 300 lbs. of processed illegal cannabis.

The illegal cannabis seized during these recent enforcement actions is currently undergoing laboratory screening and testing to ascertain whether it contains toxins, harmful pesticides, and dangerous heavy metals—which is often the case in cannabis seized at illegal cannabis cultivations.

Investigation into these illegal operations is active and ongoing.  In California, cannabis cultivation for personal and recreational use is legal; however, cultivating more than  six plants is presumed to be for business purposes and, therefore, requires a state and local cultivation license. Cultivation over this limit without the requisite licenses violates both criminal and civil laws, and may result in a felony conviction, substantial fines and fees, and civil liability.