Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that state law enforcement agencies targeted illegal cannabis grow sites near two state parks, including one in Tulare County. This resulted in the seizure of over 5,200 illegal cannabis plants and 14 firearms, including ghost guns and assault weapons.

In Tulare County’s Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park, 1,572 plants weighing about 3,757 pounds were eliminated and six firearms were seized. At Saddleback Butte State Park in Antelope Valley, 3,684 plants weighing approximately 9,620 pounds were destroyed, and eight firearms were seized.

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Operations were conducted by the Governor’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce with support from the Department of Justice.

“California State Parks — the nation’s largest state park system — is responsible for protecting some of the state’s most valued natural and cultural resources. Preventing environmental damage caused by illegal cannabis cultivation is a priority for our law enforcement team,” said Armando Quintero, director of California State Parks.

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Participating agencies included the Department of Cannabis Control, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, California DOJ, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the California National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, and the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.

“We’re committed to supporting the legal cannabis market in California. The illicit market endangers our communities, our environment, and California’s growing legal and safer cannabis industry,” Newsom said.

Newsom has directed state agencies to aggressively target organized criminal enterprises in the illicit cannabis market.

For more information on the legal California cannabis market, visit cannabis.ca.gov.