CDFW: 2.6 million cannabis plants eradicated in 2021
California's Fish and Wildlife Department said its 2021 cannabis enforcement program eradicated 2.6 million illegal plants and destroyed 487,270 pounds of flower, serving 1,125 search warrants and removing 404 illegal water diversions. The numbers cover every operation in which CDFW led or provided support.
CDFW said it eradicated 2.6 million illegal cannabis plants, destroyed 487,270
pounds (about 221.1 tonnes) of illegal cannabis flower, served 1,125 search
warrants, seized 794 firearms, removed 32,230 pounds of trash from public lands
and removed 404 illegal water diversions.[1]The numbers reflect all
operations in which CDFW acted as lead agency or in a support role.[2]
CDFW investigates illegal cannabis cultivation to curtail environmental damage
such as unauthorized streambed alterations with water diversions, habitat
destruction, illegal pesticides and poaching.[1]David Bess, CDFW Deputy
Director and Chief of the Law Enforcement Division, said illegal operators
bypassing the legal system threaten California’s fish and wildlife and praised
his officers’ work with federal, state and county partners.[2]
At the time CDFW had 68 dedicated cannabis enforcement officers working with
county, state and federal partners.[2]
Case data
Every number and detail the sources state, with the sources that state it.
Plants destroyed
2,600,000
Cannabis
221.07 t
Agency type
Regulator, Anti-narcotics agency
Cannabis
Herbal cannabis (221.07 t); Living plants (2,600,000 plants)
No figure for cannabis by value was published; the release gives no monetary estimate.
No total arrests, charges or court outcomes are given for the 1,125 warrants; only 794 firearms are reported.
The 487,270 pounds of flower destroyed is the figure as released; the release does not split it between CDFW-led and CDFW-supported operations.
The release cites CAMP statistics showing public-land enforcement activity falling to under 30 percent of illegal cultivation in 2021; no separate figure for CDFW's public-land operations is given.
Left out, as its quotation was not found in California Department of Fish and Wildlife: California's Department of Fish and Wildlife released its year-end numbers for the 2021 cannabis enforcement program on 3 February 2022.
Left out, as its quotation was not found in California Department of Fish and Wildlife: DOJ CAMP statistics cited in the release show illegal cultivation moving from public lands to private property: about 80 percent of illegal activity was on public lands in 2018, while CAMP cited less than 30 percent on public lands in 2021.
Left out agencies, as its quotation was not found in California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Left out environment, as its quotation was not found in California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
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.
