California has seized and destroyed more than $1.2 billion worth of illegal cannabis since 2022, as part of efforts to protect public safety and reinforce the state’s regulated cannabis market. Authorities seized and destroyed 21,230 pounds of illicit cannabis valued at $33.6 million in 2022. Seizures remained high in 2024, with more than 160,000 pounds of illicit cannabis destroyed, valued at $271.4 million. Altogether, the task force has seized and destroyed 757,219 pounds of illicit cannabis, estimated at around $1.2 billion. These seizures were carried out by the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force, a multi-agency group launched in 2022 by Governor Gavin Newsom to counter illegal cannabis activity.