California State Parks Seizes Over 25,000 Illegal Cannabis Plants in 2024 Crackdown
California State Parks made significant strides this year in combating illegal cannabis cultivation through its Cannabis Watershed Protection Program (CWPP).
In 2024, the CWPP’s Special Enforcement Team (SET) led 16 operations in and around state park properties, resulting in seven arrests and the removal of 25,558 cannabis plants, 4,820 pounds of processed cannabis, and 18 firearms. Additionally, these operations uncovered numerous environmental violations related to water diversion and pollution.
The environmental impacts of illegal cannabis grows are extensive, often polluting waterways and damaging California’s unique ecosystems. This year, SET fully remediated 23 historic grow sites on State Park property, removing 16,000 pounds of waste, 33,000 feet of plastic irrigation tubing, and over 600 pounds of fertilizer.
“Illegal cannabis cultivation poses a serious threat to California’s unmatched natural resources,” said State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “The State Parks Cannabis Watershed Protection Program team will never stop working to protect these public lands.”
At Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California’s largest state park, the CWPP team removed 4,672 cannabis plants, 500 pounds of waste, and 1,000 feet of irrigation line. SET collaborates with the Department of Justice’s Eradication and Prevention of Illicit Cannabis (EPIC) program and Governor Gavin Newsom’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force (UCETF).
Operations this year extended to Clear Lake State Park, Lake Oroville State Recreation Area, Smithe Redwoods State Natural Reserve, and more. These efforts help protect the environment, ensuring California’s natural landscapes remain safe and preserved for future generations.
