It was the largest series of raids ever conducted against illegal marijuana retailers in the City of Los Angeles, state regulators said.
Between Dec. 10 and 12, officials with the state Bureau of Cannabis Control and the Department of Consumer Affairs’ Cannabis Enforcement Unit served search warrants at 24 unlicensed dispensaries, confiscating $8.8 million in cannabis products, almost 10,000 untested vape pens, and $129,000 in cash.
In a press release, BCC Chief Lori Ajax called the raids a “huge success.”
“We look forward to working with local jurisdictions and law enforcement as we continue to shut down unlicensed operators in the illicit cannabis market,” said Ajax.
The enforcement action was also met with praise by the city’s legal cannabis industry, which has been struggling to compete against a formidable black market. The legal industry is expecting even more hardship with taxes set to increase after Jan. 1.