Mission
Created in 2022 by Governor Gavin Newsom, the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce has been charged by the Governor to better align state efforts and increase cannabis enforcement coordination between state, local and federal partners. UCETF’s enforcement actions protect consumer and public safety, safeguard the environment, and deprive illegal cannabis operators and transnational criminal organizations of illicit revenue that harms consumers and undercuts the regulated cannabis market in California.
Participating agencies
The taskforce is co-chaired by the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and coordinated by the Homeland Security Division of Cal OES. The taskforce includes more than two dozen local, state, and federal partners working together to disrupt the illegal cannabis market.
View all participating agencies
- Business & Consumer Services and Housing Agency
- Department of Cannabis Control
- California Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of Pesticide Regulation
- Department of Toxic Substances Control
- State Water Resources Control Board
- California Natural Resources Agency
- Department of Fish and Wildlife
- California State Parks
- Department of Forest and Fire Protection
- Labor & Workforce Development Agency
- Occupational Health and Safety (DOSH)
- Employment Development Department
- Department of Industrial Relations
- Agricultural Labor Relations Board
- Government Operations Agency
- Franchise Tax Board
- Department of Tax and Fee Administration
- California Health and Human Services
- Department of Public Health
- California State Transportation Agency
- California Highway Patrol
- Office of Emergency Services
- National Guard
- Department of Insurance
- Department of Justice
- Department of Food and Agriculture
- California Police Chiefs Association
- California State Sheriffs’ Association
- High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA)
Photo credit: Lancaster PD
Task Force Objectives
Enforcement
Investigating, seizing, and dismantling illegal cannabis operations across California.
Accountability
Pursuing accountability through criminal, civil and administrative actions.
Communications
Developing and sharing materials that promote public and law enforcement awareness of UCETF efforts.
Intelligence
Gathering, analyzing and sharing information through partner collaboration.
Latest Enforcement Updates
UCETF news
Media
California seized over $70 million in illegal cannabis since July, governor says
ABC 12 | October 22, 2024
Thousands of illegal cannabis plants seized from Oakland industrial building
KRON 4 | October 1, 2024
Millions of fraudulent cannabis packaging materials seized by California authorities
KTLA | August 13, 2024
More than 2.2M illegal cannabis products seized in Los Angeles’ Toy District
NBC 4 | August 13, 2024
California’s War On Illegal Cannabis: $120M Seized, 37 Tons Of Marijuana Destroyed So Far In 2024
MSN | August 8, 2024
California Seizes $53 Million in Illegal Cannabis Products in 3 Months
The Epoch Times | April 17, 2024
California seizes illegal cannabis products worth $61 million since start of 2024
May 14, 2024
Over $53 million worth of illegal cannabis seized in California
KTLA 5 | April 13, 2024
California cannabis task force seizes nearly 32,000 pounds of pot in first quarter of 2024
CBS News | April 11, 2024
Task force seized $312M worth of pot from illegal California grow operations
CBS 13 | January 16, 2024
California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce Strategically Disrupted Illegal Market by Seizing Over $101M Worth of Unlicensed Cannabis Products, Seized 363% More Firearms in Q3 2023
Sierra Sun Times | October 6, 2023
Press releases
California seizes over $70 million in illegal cannabis since July
Cannabis task force seizes $2.3 million in illegal cannabis and toxic pesticides
California seizes over 2.2 million illicit cannabis packages, many marketed as children’s candy
California seizes over $120 million in illegal cannabis since January
California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce Seizes $53M Worth of Unlicensed Cannabis
California seizes over $312M in unlicensed cannabis during task force’s first calendar year of operation
Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce strategically disrupted illegal market by seizing over $101M worth of unlicensed cannabis products, seized 363% more firearms in Q3 2023
Governor’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce Targets Environmental Harm in Largest Ever Operation to Eradicate Illegal Cannabis Grows in Siskiyou County
California’s statewide cannabis enforcement taskforce continues to aggressively combat illegal market by seizing over $109M worth of unlicensed cannabis products in Q2 2023
Contact
For more information related to the UCETF, please reach out to info@cannabis.ca.gov
Complaints
You can file an anonymous complaint against an unlicensed cannabis business for possible UCETF action. Provide as much detail as you can.
