“These investigative operations conducted by local, state, and federal law enforcement underscore the urgent need for additional resources to identify, investigate, and eradicate the widespread illegal cannabis cultivation taking place in our communities and across our state. These illicit operations threaten public safety, harm our environment, undermine legitimate licensed cannabis operators, and deprive the state of critical revenue.”

CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

LASSEN COUNTY – During the weeks of August 17th – 21st and September 7th – 11th, 2026, personnel from the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, California Department of Justice – Eradication & Prevention of Illicit Cannabis (EPIC), and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) executed search warrants on 47 separate parcels in the course of investigating illegal cultivation of marijuana in northern Lassen County.

The investigations began In June of this year. Personnel from the Sheriff’s Office flew over several suspected cultivation sites and determined that marijuana was actively being grown. It was determined that none of these grows were licensed by the State of California or Lassen County.

During the execution of the search warrants, Sheriff’s Office personnel located approximately 151,177 marijuana plants and 19,973.27 pounds of processed marijuana. Eleven firearms were seized from cultivation sites during the two weeks of operations. Located at the sites were thousands of pounds of garbage and dangerous pesticides. Many of the sites were found to be diverting and polluting water from nearby streams. Detectives are committed to bringing those responsible for the illegal grows to justice.

According to the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, the owners of record for the properties will be taxed based on the size of each grow.