The DEA has put out its annual report diving into how many illicit weed operations it has busted in 2024.
In total, the DEA has ended operations of 16,330 facilities. Of those, 14,904 were outdoor and 1,426 were inside. 5.3 million plants were seized in all.
Some states were not included in the data, which means it’s an incomplete list and the numbers are higher. For instance, Maine wasn’t a part of the list, and more and more sites have popped up within its perimeter recently. These numbers would have certainly pushed up the amount substantially.
Also, the DEA has begun listing “Chinese Grows,” as labeled by the administration. Of the tens of thousands of sites taken down, 15 were considered Chinese grows. The ratio is extremely one-sided and takes away some of the fear mongering about Chinese companies coming in and taking over the illicit market.
Paul Armentano, deputy director of NORML, made a good point about the data, saying that “it also begs the question why Chinese operators are being singled out as opposed to the involvement of other international [drug trafficking organizations].”
In “total,” 5,764 arrests were made and 3,125 weapons seized.
Read more about the report at Marijuana Moment.
