California’s Department of Cannabis Control has issued a $21,000 fine for Glass House related to an investigation of complaints regarding underage workers at the local cannabis facility.
Based on available evidence, the department found the company lacked adequate procedures and documentation to verify and record worker ages on site, agency spokesperson Jordan Traverso said, in a June 24 email.
Glass House has appealed the violation, which company officials described as issued for an alleged failure to maintain records.
Last summer, federal agents descended on Glass House’s cannabis operations just outside of Camarillo and another in Santa Barbara County on July 10, 2025. U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials would later report that hundreds were detained during the immigration raid. Most were suspected of being undocumented.
One farmworker died. Hundreds of protesters and scared family members of farmworkers filled Laguna Road outside the local farm and the feds launched rounds of tear gas and smoke bombs. Federal officials also said around a dozen minors were found and an investigation into potential child labor violations was ongoing.
The state’s Department of Cannabis Control was not involved in the federal immigration enforcement operation conducted at Glass House, which was solely a federal action, officials said. Prior to the federal raids, the state agency had opened an investigation into a complaint related to underage workers at Glass House facilities.
In California, teenagers 14 and younger can work in agricultural operations under certain conditions. The minimum age for workers in the cannabis industry, however, is 21.
The state agency requested documentation from the U.S. Department of Labor related to individuals identified during the federal action, Traverso said. But that documentation was not provided.
“The state conducted its own independent review and issued a citation based on evidence we could independently verify, despite the federal government failing to provide requested documentation that could have better supported and informed the investigation,” according to the emailed response to questions.
What prompted the state investigation?
During a routine inspection in May 2025, the department observed no minors on the premises, according to a statement released by the state agency last year. An investigation was opened after receiving a subsequent complaint.
The probe sought to ensure full compliance with state law, officials said. State officials said the employment of individuals under the age of 21 in the cannabis industry is strictly illegal, a serious matter, and is not tolerated.
Weeks after the immigration raids, Glass House reported it had terminated two farm labor contractors, hired a compliance consultant and updated its contract agreements. The contractors were required to ensure that employees were 21 or older at the cannabis farms and that workers had valid work authorization, according to a statement Glass House Brands released Aug. 4, 2025.
State officials referred any questions about whether federal authorities intend to pursue charges to the federal government. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for additional information for this report.
Cheri Carlson covers the environment and county government for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Glass House faces fine in state investigation of cannabis facility
Reporting by Cheri Carlson, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
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By Cheri Carlson, Ventura County Star | USA TODAY Network
