What Are Some Of The Largest Cannabis Busts In The U.S. By State?
The United States has a long history of cannabis prohibition and enforcement, with numerous large-scale busts taking place over the years. However, some states have seen particularly significant busts that stand out among the rest.
In California, one of the largest cannabis busts in the state's history took place in 2019 when law enforcement officials seized more than 80,000 marijuana plants and 4,500 pounds of processed cannabis in a series of raids. The operation, which took place in the counties of Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity, was valued at an estimated $1 billion. The raids were the result of an 18-month long investigation that targeted illegal cannabis cultivation on public lands.
In Colorado, one of the largest cannabis busts in the state's history occurred in 2013 when the Denver Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized more than 4,200 marijuana plants, valued at $10.5 million, from a warehouse in Denver. The operation was the result of a two-year investigation into a large-scale illegal grow operation.
In Oregon, the largest cannabis bust in the state's history took place in 2018 when law enforcement officials seized more than 80,000 marijuana plants, valued at $160 million, from a series of illegal grow sites in the Klamath and Jackson counties. The operation was the result of a joint effort between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and resulted in the arrest of several individuals.
In Michigan, the largest cannabis bust in the state's history took place in 2019, when a task force of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies seized more than 16,000 marijuana plants, valued at $48 million, from illegal grow sites in the Upper Peninsula. The operation was the result of a yearlong investigation into illegal cannabis cultivation in the region.
In New York, the largest cannabis bust in the state's history took place in 2019 when law enforcement officials seized more than 77,000 marijuana plants, valued at $77 million, from a massive indoor grow operation in the Bronx. The operation was the result of a two-year investigation and resulted in the arrest of several individuals.
In Kentucky, one of the largest cannabis busts in the state's history took place in 2019, when law enforcement officials seized more than 10,000 marijuana plants, valued at $20 million, from a series of illegal grow sites in the western part of the state. The operation was the result of a year-long investigation and resulted in the arrest of several individuals.
In Florida, one of the largest cannabis busts in the state's history took place in 2018, when law enforcement officials seized more than 40,000 marijuana plants, valued at $80 million, from a series of illegal grow sites in the northern part of the state. The operation was the result of a joint effort between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and resulted in the arrest of several individuals.
In Oklahoma, one of the largest cannabis busts in the state's history took place in 2019, when law enforcement officials seized more than 30,000 marijuana plants, valued at $60 million, from a series of illegal grow sites in the western part of the state. The operation was the result of a year-long investigation and resulted in the arrest of several individuals.
In Alabama, one of the largest cannabis busts in the state's history took place in 2018, when law enforcement officials seized more than 20,000 marijuana plants, valued at $40 million, from a series of illegal grow sites in the northern part of the state. The operation was the result of a joint effort between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and resulted in the arrest of several individuals.