California’s Illegal Marijuana Market Remains Elusive Despite State Efforts
Despite the state’s efforts to combat illegal cannabis, the black market continues to thrive, with law enforcement officials saying that it’s a drop in the bucket. In the past year, California’s Department of Justice seized an estimated $353 million worth of illicit plants, while a task force with the governor’s office seized an estimated $191 million. However, these seizures are barely making a dent in the illegal market, which is estimated to make up more than half of the state’s marijuana sales.
Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue said that the state’s efforts are like “spraying gasoline on a fire” and that it’s a game of Whac-A-Mole, with illegal grows popping up again after being eradicated. Mendocino County Sheriff Matthew Kendall echoed this sentiment, saying that it would take 50 police officers for 50 days to even begin to make a dent in the problem.
Experts say that the state’s heavy taxation and regulations are driving legal growers out of business, while illegal operators are able to dodge taxes and licensing fees. The lack of harsh penalties for illegal cultivation and the ability of sellers to opt into the illegal market without fear of severe consequences are also contributing to the problem.
Sheriffs and law enforcement officials are calling for policy changes to address the narrow profit margin for legal cultivators and the minor penalties for illegal ones. They say that raids are a limited enforcement tool and that more needs to be done to address the root causes of the problem.
Despite the challenges, law enforcement officials are not giving up. They are continuing to conduct raids and welcome state assistance, but they are also urging policymakers to develop solutions that will help to level the playing field and make it more difficult for illegal operators to thrive.
