Riverside County police seize $1 million in illegal cannabis and mushroom products

According to a press release from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the raid occurred around 5:30 p.m. on May 4. The Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station Special Enforcement Team (SET) responded to a disruption in the 1700 block of Production Circle, which is in a business district shared with other businesses on Rubidoux Boulevard.

Several people attempted to flee the scene, but the sheriff’s department reported that many were arrested. “Jurupa Valley SET deputies found evidence of an illegal/unlicensed marijuana dispensary and secured the site. Jurupa Valley SET deputies obtained a search warrant on the property and sought assistance from the Riverside Sheriff’s Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET),” the department said.

At the scene, officers found various illegal cannabis products. “During the service of the search warrant, officers found approximately 115 pounds of processed marijuana, 10 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, 100 pounds of marijuana concentrate, 2,400 marijuana vapes and 1,200 marijuana edible items. The estimated value of the confiscated items was estimated at over $1,000,000,” the agency reported.

As of May 9, the investigation is ongoing and no further information has been released at this time.

Last summer, the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) announced that law enforcement had seized more than $1 billion worth of illegal cannabis products between 2021 and 2022. “Achieved through close collaboration with local, state and federal partners, this important milestone furthers California’s efforts to prosecute activities that harm communities and the environment, including water theft, threats of violence, elder abuse and human trafficking, to name but a few to name.”, the DCC explained. “These operations and the products they manufacture endanger consumer safety and the vitality of legal and compliant licensees.”

Most recently, in March, the DCC released its enforcement statistics for 2021 and 2022. During that period, search warrants increased from 62 in 2021 to 155 in 2022, with over £41,726 of illegal product seized in 2021 and over £144,254 in 2022.

Bill Jones, DCC’s chief of law enforcement, explained the importance of continuing to crack down on illegal operations. “Through every enforcement action, our teams gain a better understanding of how these criminal operations work, which helps us better focus our resources and strengthen our outcomes to protect the health and safety of all Californians,” Jones said. “I want to thank the dedicated group of officers in our department who work closely with our law enforcement partners to make these operations successful. Together we are cracking down on the illicit cannabis market and making sure California maintains a well-regulated and legal market that benefits Californians.”

In addition, the DCC reported that it destroyed 19,221 illegal cannabis plants in 2021 and 264,196 plants in 2022 – an increase of 1,274%.

The City of Riverside is one of many still working to create a regulatory framework in their respective areas. According to The Press Enterprise, Riverside City Council recently passed an ordinance on Feb. 28 that would allow for up to 14 cannabis retail permits. On March 1, a press release from the city published testimonies from some key people.

According to City Councilman Ronaldo Fierro, it’s high time Riverside moved with the times. “Today’s long overdue decision to lift the retail cannabis ban was the result of a multi-year effort that included intense community and stakeholder input,” said Fierro. “This is the first step in a pragmatic and sensible political process aimed at providing value and opportunity to all Riverside residents.”

Riverside Mayor Pro Tem Clarissa Cervantes also released a statement saying cannabis is finally making headway in Riverside. “With just over 18 months until the November 2024 vote, we have the time we need to create a program that is socially just and ensures voters are informed of what the tax measure will achieve,” he said Cervantes. “Riverside voters approved this measure years ago, and the council voted to move forward with creating a pathway for safe access and quality workforce opportunities.”

City officials will continue to develop a permit review and implementation process and plan to submit their plan to Riverside City Council sometime this summer.