Recently, CLG successfully helped a client get a substantial amount of cannabis plants released from the embargo. The plants were placed under administrative embargo on 1/29/25 by the Department of Cannabis Control following an inspection that reflected that these plants were not properly tagged in Metrc. The DCC placed the plants in embargo pursuant to Business and Professions Code 26039.3 on suspicion that the plants were adulterated, meaning they did not come from the licensed facility. Our client then sought to demonstrate traceability on its own, which resulted in the DCC ordering the plants to be destroyed and directing the client to come up with a destruction plan pursuant to 4 CCR 17801.5(c). At that point, CLG got involved and, within a week, conducted an internal audit of the client’s facility and underlying documents, including surveillance footage and submitted lengthy evidence of traceability to mother plants recorded in Metrc.
On March 25, 2025, we received an amended determination from the department that the embargo would be lifted. This was truly a situation of obtaining a victory from the jaws of defeat. The plant destruction would have cost our client between $200,000 and $300,000. We are very pleased with the result and appreciate the department’s careful and thorough consideration of the facts.
If you have an embargo situation, please do not hesitate to ask CLG for help in freeing your plants or other cannabis products!