California CAMP destroyed a record 4.4 million plants in 2009
The Campaign Against Marijuana Planting destroyed more than 4.4 million plants in 665 raids across 41 counties in the 2009 season, a record year, with 111 arrests and 89 firearms seized. The state called it the program's biggest year since its 1983 start, up from 2.9 million plants in 2008.
🇺🇸 California (41 counties) · California, United States
The Campaign Against Marijuana Planting destroyed more than 4.4 million illegally grown
cannabis plants during its 102-day 2009 season, up from 2.9 million in 2008, making it a
record year of eradication.[1][2]Officers conducted 665 raids across 41 of California’s
58 counties, made 111 arrests and seized 89 firearms.[1][2]
Public land and top counties
More than 3.3 million of the plants came from public lands, with just over one million
from private land, and officials warned of deforestation and chemical damage to wildlife
from the grows.[2]The Attorney General’s biennial report puts the public-land share at
3.4 million plants on state and federal land.[1]Lake County ranked second statewide,
with CAMP reporting 506,506 plants there against the sheriff’s final tally of 517,942;
Lake County officers seized 272 pounds of processed marijuana, 14 firearms and made 34
arrests.[2]
Case data
Every number and detail the sources state, with the sources that state it.
The official biennial report puts 3.4 million of the plants on state and federal public land, while Lake County News reported 3.3 million; this report uses the official figure.
The reports do not say whether the 111 arrested people were charged or convicted.
California's Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force seized or destroyed 55,308 pounds of illicit cannabis and eradicated 108,226 plants between July and September 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom's office said. The quarter's operations across nine counties led to 14 arrests, nine firearms and $29,215 in cash, and brought the state's nine-month total to more than $230 million in cannabis.
Arrested 14Plants destroyed 108,226Cannabis 25.0873 t
Humboldt County sheriff's deputies eradicated about 3,102 cannabis plants and destroyed about 36 pounds of processed cannabis at two unlicensed grows near Alderpoint and Garberville on 5 and 6 October 2026. No arrests were made and the cases were sent to the District Attorney for review.
On 25 September 2026 New Mexico's Regulation and Licensing Department Enforcement Bureau and the Organized Crime Commission raided 102 Howell Road in Estancia, Torrance County, seizing and destroying about 6,300 mature cannabis plants in 21 greenhouses weighing an estimated 21,000 pounds. The case remains open for prosecution.
On 16 September 2026 U.S. Forest Service officers, Glenn County’s Major Crimes Task Force and a Forest Service helicopter team eradicated about 700 cannabis plants from an illegal grow in remote Mendocino National Forest. No arrests were reported.
