California Government Auctions Seized Cannabis Merchandise, Including Bongs and Equipment

The California Department of Tax & Fee Administration (CDTFA) and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) are set to host the first-ever public auction of seized cannabis merchandise in Los Angeles. The auction, taking place in the parking lot of the CHP’s headquarters, will feature items confiscated from 10 cannabis businesses that were recently busted. While only one of the shops was a legitimate business, the others were raided for evading taxes.

CDTFA Director Nick Maduros stated that the seizure and auctioning of property from cannabis businesses that evade the law is a means to recover the taxes owed to the state. The auction will include a variety of items, such as pipes, furniture, electronics, crowd-control poles, cannabis manufacturing equipment, and a plethora of bongs. Additionally, less nefarious supplies like a snow cone machine, framed art, and miscellaneous office supplies will also be up for grabs.

Each item will be sold “as is” to the highest bidder, and the proceeds from the auction will be applied towards the liabilities owed by each of the 10 debtors, according to the CDTFA. Despite the legalization of marijuana in 2018, California continues to grapple with an underground market that includes unlicensed growing operations, robberies targeting legal businesses, and illicit shipments to out-of-state vendors.

It is worth noting that last month, authorities discovered the bodies of six men in the Mojave Desert, believed to be the result of a violent slaying stemming from a soured illegal cannabis deal. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by California in combating illegal activities within the cannabis industry.