Over the past five years, the U.S. government has stepped up its campaign against the cannabis black market, even as state-level legalization continues to expand. While more than half the country now allows legal adult-use sales, illicit operators remain entrenched, prompting coordinated crackdowns from federal agencies and state task forces.
Federal Enforcement Persists
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has not slowed its pace, continuing its long-running eradication program in cooperation with local agencies. In 2024, the DEA reported seizing more than five million cannabis plants and nearly 6,000 marijuana-related arrests, underscoring the federal government’s stance that large-scale unlicensed cultivation is still a priority. The Department of Justice has also pursued prosecutions targeting organized networks that exploit state laws while funneling product across state lines.
Consumer protection has emerged as another major front. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have launched repeated waves of warning letters against unregulated THC and CBD products. Delta-8 THC in particular has drawn scrutiny for being marketed in candy-style packaging attractive to children. These actions highlight a broader federal strategy: tackling the black market not just through raids but by addressing public health risks posed by mislabeled or unsafe products.
California: Coordinated Action
California, home to the nation’s largest legal cannabis market, has invested heavily in enforcement. In 2022, the state created the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce, bringing together agencies from agriculture to taxation. By 2024, the task force reported seizing an estimated $534 million in illegal cannabis. In 2025, it announced a new record: more than 400,000 plants and nearly 186,000 pounds of processed cannabis eradicated in a single year, along with dozens of arrests and firearms seizures. State leaders argue that these efforts help stabilize the legal market, which continues to face price pressure from illicit competitors.
New York: Padlocks and Pushback
New York’s legalization rollout has been overshadowed by a flood of unlicensed storefronts. In response, the state launched “Operation Padlock to Protect,” closing shops and issuing millions in fines. Officials claim over 1,400 illegal stores have been shut down. However, enforcement hasn’t been without controversy. A late-2024 court decision found one New York City enforcement method unconstitutional, forcing revisions while raising questions about due process. Despite legal challenges, the state continues to pressure unlicensed sellers, combining seizures with consumer education campaigns.
Oklahoma: Battling Organized Crime
Oklahoma, once known for its lenient medical licensing system, became a hotspot for illicit grows exporting across the U.S. In 2023, Attorney General Gentner Drummond launched an Organized Crime Task Force, which has since executed raids, seized weapons and cash, and pursued federal cases tied to trafficking. Officials say transnational criminal groups exploited loopholes in the state’s medical program, prompting calls for tighter regulation and enforcement. This crackdown illustrates the risks faced by states where permissive laws outpaced oversight capacity.
High-Profile Cases
Several federal cases in recent years have drawn attention to the darker side of the black market. In New Mexico, a sprawling cultivation operation linked to Navajo Nation land was dismantled after authorities seized more than 260,000 plants and 60,000 pounds of processed cannabis. Investigators reported labor abuses, environmental damage, and illegal pesticide use, underscoring how unlicensed operations often sidestep safety, labor, and environmental protections.
The Road Ahead
While legalization has expanded consumer access and generated tax revenue, the persistence of black market activity shows that legal markets alone do not erase illicit supply chains. Enforcement efforts over the past five years reveal a patchwork approach: aggressive plant eradication in California, storefront padlocking in New York, and organized crime task forces in Oklahoma. The federal government remains engaged through DEA raids, FDA and FTC oversight, and criminal prosecutions.
As the debate over potential federal rescheduling continues, one key question lingers: will broader legalization reduce the appeal of black market operators, or will enforcement remain a central pillar of cannabis policy for years to come?