A recent raid in California uncovered more than 2.2 million counterfeit marijuana packages that authorities say were being used to circumvent the state’s legal marijuana regulations.
A recent sting operation in the Los Angeles Toy District seized more than two million cannabis packages illegally bearing counterfeit California stamps, undermining the safety and integrity of the state’s regulated cannabis industry, the office of California Governor Gavin Newsom announced in a press release.
Authorities said most of the illegal packaging was designed to imitate popular foods or candies to appeal to children.
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Authorities in California have seized more than 2.2 million counterfeit or fake cannabis packaging materials that were likely used to circumvent the state’s legal marijuana regulations. (Governor Newsom’s Office)
“California is committed to supporting a safe, legal cannabis market and we will not tolerate criminal activity that undermines that legal market, especially activity that puts children at risk. The success of this operation in Toys and Bush reinforces our efforts and serves as a clear warning to criminals who choose to operate outside the safer legal industry,” Governor Newsom said in a statement to Fox News.
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California law enforcement agencies have seized more than 2.2 million counterfeit marijuana packages that were allegedly being used to circumvent the state’s legal marijuana regulations. (Governor Newsom’s Office)
Authorities said the sting operation focused on 11 stores in Los Angeles’ Toy Row, where numerous businesses were manufacturing and selling bulk packaging used in the illicit marijuana market in an effort to defraud customers and circumvent state safety and quality regulations.
“The operation in Toy County marks an important new direction for the Integrated Cannabis Enforcement Task Force in disrupting the unlicensed sale of cannabis. Illegal packaging is dangerous to consumers and must be removed from the marketplace, especially when it imitates well-known brands popular with children,” said Nicole Elliott, Director of the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC).
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Authorities seized more than 2.2 million packages of counterfeit marijuana in California. (Governor Newsom’s Office)
The task force recently announced it had seized more than $120 million. He has been using illegal marijuana since January.
“The legal cannabis market brings billions of dollars to our state’s economy and helps maintain California’s position as the fifth largest economy in the world,” Newsom said.
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FOX 58 Bakersfield reports that the task force has worked in 11 California counties in recent months, including Mendocino, Tuolumne, Shasta, Orange, Kern, Alameda, Yuba, Trinity, Los Angeles, Butte and Humboldt.
“We will not tolerate illegal behavior that threatens our economy and the health and well-being of California communities,” Governor Newsom said.
