Federal Agents Arrest Hundreds of Workers in California Cannabis Raids, Sparking Fears of Industry Crackdown
In a move that has sent shockwaves through California’s legal cannabis industry, federal agents arrested hundreds of workers in immigration sweeps at a major cannabis company in Southern California. The raids, which targeted Glass House Farms, have raised concerns that President Trump’s administration may be targeting the marijuana industry, despite its legal status in the state.
The United Farm Workers union has advised workers who are not U.S. citizens to avoid jobs in the cannabis industry, citing the risk of deportation and the potential for criminal charges. The union’s warning has sparked fears that the Trump administration may be using the cannabis industry as a pretext to target legal immigrants.
The raids, which were conducted at two facilities in Camarillo and Carpinteria, resulted in the arrest of over 360 people suspected of being in the country illegally. The operation also recovered 14 immigrant minors. Glass House Farms, one of the state’s largest licensed cannabis companies, did not respond to requests for comment.
The cannabis industry in California has been growing rapidly since the state legalized recreational marijuana in 2016. The industry now employs an estimated 83,000 people and generates nearly $4.9 billion in annual revenue. However, the industry has long been vulnerable to federal crackdowns, and the recent raids have raised concerns that the Trump administration may be hardening its stance against cannabis.
Industry leaders are urging caution and advising growers to take steps to protect themselves and their employees. “There is a sense that the community has gotten a little complacent in our legalization bubbles,” said Caren Woodson, senior director of compliance and licensing for Kiva Brands and the board president of the California Cannabis Industry Association. “We’re definitely in a moment of uncertainty.”
The Trump administration has not indicated whether the raids were an isolated incident or part of a broader crackdown on the cannabis industry. However, some advocates are warning that the industry may be at risk of being targeted by the administration.
“We can’t take anything for granted,” said Steph Sherer, executive director of the advocacy group Americans For Safe Access. “We’ve gotten dependent on this broader layer of support for medical cannabis that’s being tested right now.”
The California Department of Cannabis Control has launched an investigation into a child labor complaint against Glass House Farms, which could further complicate the situation.
The recent raids have also raised concerns about the impact on the cannabis industry’s growth and development.
