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California Seized More Than $500M In Illegal Cannabis In 2024

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California Seized More Than 0M In Illegal Cannabis In 2024


California, the nation’s top cannabis market, continues to battle illegal operations on a grand scale. State officials seized $534 million worth of illegal cannabis in 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office reported Tuesday.

The seizures were part of operations conducted by the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force, co-led by the Department of Cannabis Control. Efforts targeted illegal retail sales, unlicensed delivery services and unauthorized residential cultivation sites.

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“We will continue to target illegal cannabis operations and cut off the illicit revenue streams of transnational criminal organizations that prey on workers, our environment and kids,” Newsom said in a statement. “Enforcement officials have been on the front lines—with local, state and federal partners—to bolster our legal cannabis market.”

Los Angeles and Alameda counties accounted for the largest share of cannabis seizures, each surpassing $100 million in value. They were followed by Mendocino, Shasta, Kern, San Bernardino, Nevada, Orange, Stanislaus and Contra Costa counties. Contra Costa had the lowest total, with $17 million in illegal cannabis confiscated.

In 2024, enforcement teams executed 425 search warrants statewide, targeting indoor, outdoor and retail operations. Of those, 155 were for indoor cultivation, 143 for outdoor cultivation and 87 for retail operations.

Officers seized $268,897,761 worth of unlicensed indoor cannabis yielding 162,887 pounds and over 280,000 plants. They seized $198,305,250 worth of unlicensed indoor cannabis yielding 122,673 pounds and over 190,000 plants. For retail operations, $17,289,441.50 worth of unlicensed cannabis was seized, with an additional 1,275 plants. The warrants led to 113 arrests total.

Despite the crackdown, state officials remain optimistic. The Department of Cannabis Control released a market outlook report Monday showing that legal cannabis prices remain stable, industry value is rising and the licensed market is growing.

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“These enforcement efforts highlight California’s continued focus on maintaining the integrity of the legal market, supporting licensed operators, and protecting consumers and communities from the harms associated with unregulated cannabis activities,” Department of Cannabis Control Director Nicole Elliott said.

Illegal Cannabis Thrives in California

The black market continues to saturate the state. Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), discussed California’s illicit market on NPR last month.

“We’re talking about a market that lacks transparency and accountability,” Armentano said. However, he emphasized that buying cannabis from a regulated market is safest. “Whether I was getting cannabis, alcohol or my broccoli from an entirely unregulated market, I’d be concerned about any number of issues.”

Since 2019, authorities have seized and destroyed nearly 800 tons—about 1.6 million pounds—of illegal cannabis, valued at approximately $2.8 billion. More than 1,400 enforcement operations have led to the destruction of 2.8 million plants, with many cases involving additional charges for weapons violations. In total, 733 arrests have been made.

Officials also issued “red tag” violations at 105 locations for code infractions, including unsafe electrical wiring, mold and illegal chemical use.

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A new focus for state regulators, announced last September, is cracking down on illegal hemp products that contain active compounds believed to be used recreationally.

Newsom established the state’s cannabis task force in 2022 to enhance enforcement coordination between state, local and federal agencies. The task force includes representatives from the Department of Cannabis Control, the Department of Pesticide Regulation, the Department of Toxic Substances Control and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Despite these ongoing efforts, illegal cannabis continues to thrive in California.



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Republican governor candidate Chad Bianco says he’s the ‘antithesis to California state government’

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Republican governor candidate Chad Bianco says he’s the ‘antithesis to California state government’


We are counting down to the California governor’s race. Chad Bianco, the sheriff of Riverside County, is one of the two biggest names running on the Republican ticket.

In a one-on-one interview with Eyewitness News political reporter Josh Haskell, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said, “I am the antithesis to California state government because I am going to take a nuclear bomb into that building and absolutely destroy everything that they do to us behind closed doors.”

Although he’s been elected by the voters twice, Bianco says he’s not a politician — which is why he believes his campaign for California governor is resonating, as reflected in the polls.

“President Trump, in one year, from 2025 when he took over, until now, did absolutely nothing to harm California. What’s harming California is 30 years of Democrat one-party rule that have created an environment here that no one can live in anymore. They’ve only been successful here in California because we vote D no matter what. You vote D or die. I mean, that’s it. Charles Manson would be elected in California if he was the only Democrat on the ballot,” Bianco said.

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Bianco isn’t the only conservative Republican running for governor, and according to polling, he’s neck-and-neck with former Fox News host Steve Hilton.

SEE ALSO: CA governor candidate Steve Hilton says ‘everybody supports’ Trump’s immigration policies

Leading in some polls in the wide-open California Governor’s race as the June primary creeps closer is Republican and former Fox News host Steve Hilton.

“Steve has no chance of winning in November. The Democrats know that I’m going to win in November, and so they have to do everything they can to keep me out of that,” Bianco said.

When asked about the affordability crisis in the state, Bianco said, “Almost the entire issue of affordability in California is because of regulation, excessive regulation imposed by government. Every single regulation can be signed away with the governor’s signature.”

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“It is a drug and alcohol addiction problem that, and a mental health problem,” he said about the homelessness crisis. “Every single bit of money that is going to these nonprofits that say ‘homeless,’ zero money. You’re getting absolutely nothing. I can’t tell you that we would end what we see in the homeless situation within a year, but I guarantee you we would never see it again after two years.”

When challenged on that prediction, pointing to how the state doesn’t have the facilities to treat the number of people living on our streets, Bianco responded, “We have been conditioned to believe that buildings take five years to build. It takes 90 days or less to build a house, but in California, it takes three to five years because the government won’t allow it. The regulations that are destroying this state are going to be removed with me as the governor.”

Bianco also said California jails shouldn’t have to play the role of treatment facilities.

Although he says he supports the Trump administration and wants the president’s endorsement, Bianco has been traveling the state — meeting not just with Republicans, but Democrats and independents as well. He says all of our state government officials have failed.

The primary election is June 2.

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No clear front-runner in race for California governor, new poll shows

A new poll shows there’s still no clear front-runner in the race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Copyright © 2026 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.



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PlayOn Sports fined $1.1 million by California watchdog over student data violations

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PlayOn Sports fined .1 million by California watchdog over student data violations


California’s privacy watchdog has ordered PlayOn Sports to pay a $1.10 million fine and change how it handles consumer data after finding the company’s practices violated state law in ways that affected students and schools in the state.

The California Privacy Protection Agency Board issued the decision following a settlement reached by CalPrivacy’s Enforcement Division.

The decision is the first by the board to address privacy violations involving students and California schools.

Schools across the country use PlayOn Sports’ GoFan platform to sell digital tickets to high school sporting events, theater performances, and homecoming and prom dances, with attendees presenting tickets at the door on their mobile phones.

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Schools also use PlayOn Sports’ platforms for other sports-related activities, including attending games, streaming them online, and looking up statistics about teams and players.

In California, about 1,400 schools contract with PlayOn Sports for these services.

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GoFan is also the official ticketing platform for the California Interscholastic Federation, the governing body for high school sports.

According to the board’s decision, PlayOn Sports used tracking technologies to collect personal information and deliver targeted advertisements to ticketholders and others using its services.

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The company allegedly required Californians to click “agree” to tracking technologies before they could use their tickets or view PlayOn Sports websites, without providing a sufficient opt-out option.

“Students trying to go to prom or a high school football game shouldn’t have to leave their privacy rights at the door,” said Michael Macko, CalPrivacy’s head of enforcement. “You couldn’t attend these events without showing your ticket, and you couldn’t show your ticket without being tracked for advertising. California’s privacy law does not work that way. Businesses must ensure they offer lawful ways for Californians to opt-out, particularly with captive audiences.”

The decision also describes students as a uniquely vulnerable population and warns that targeted advertising systems can subject students to profiling that can follow them for years, expose them to manipulative or harmful content, and develop sensitive inferences about their lives.

Instead of providing its own opt-out method, PlayOn Sports directed students and other users to opt out through the Network Advertising Initiative and the Digital Advertising Alliance, which the decision said violated the company’s responsibility to provide its own way for consumers to opt out. The company also allegedly failed to recognize opt-out preference signals and did not provide Californians with sufficient notice of its privacy practices.

“We are committed to making it as easy as possible for all Californians — from high school students to older adults, and everyone in between — to make the choice of whether they want to be tracked or not,” said Tom Kemp, CalPrivacy’s executive director. “Californians can opt-out with covered businesses, and they can sign up for the newly launched DROP system to request that data brokers delete their personal information.”

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Beyond the $1.10 million fine, the board’s order requires PlayOn Sports to conduct risk assessments, provide disclosures that are easy to read and understand, and implement proper opt-out methods.

The order also requires the company to comply with California’s privacy law prohibiting the selling or sharing of personal information of consumers between 13 and 16 without their affirmative opt-in consent.



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California bill to bar police from taking second job with ICE advances in state Assembly

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California bill to bar police from taking second job with ICE advances in state Assembly


Wednesday, March 4, 2026 4:43AM

CA bill to keep police from moonlighting with ICE advances

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KABC) — A bill that would prevent police officers from moonlighting with federal immigration enforcement agencies, such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is advancing through the California State Assembly.

AB 1537 passed the State Assembly’s committee on public safety on Tuesday.

The bill also requires that officers report any offers for secondary employment related to immigration enforcement to their place of work.

Those failing to comply could face decertification as a peace officer in California.

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The bill was introduced by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, whose district includes Mar Vista, Ladera Heights, Mid-Wilshire and parts of South Los Angeles.

Copyright © 2026 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.



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