The manager of one farm, Edgar Rodriguez, a U.S. citizen, said he was handcuffed, thrown to the ground and had his arm twisted behind his back after he asked to see a warrant.

The annual competition and showcase, called California Cannabis Experience, was sponsored by Embarc, a Sacramento dispensary. The event provides information on the history of cannabis and its usages through educational banners, booths and seminars.

ICE agents raided cannabis nurseries in Camarillo, California, and Carpinteria, California, on Thursday. Both cannabis facilities are owned by Glass House Brands Inc., which bills itself as one of the largest cannabis flower brands in the world.

Federal agents conducted immigration enforcement raids on Thursday on state-licensed marijuana nurseries in an agricultural region of coastal Southern California, where they were confronted by throngs of angry protesters.

But the celebration comes amid new financial strain. California’s excise tax on legal cannabis recently increased from 15% to 19%. The excise tax is applied before standard sales taxes. "The 4-percent is huge. I think it affects the consumer, the consumers the most," Chu said.

After being so successful last year, the area where people can purchase and smoke marijuana at the California State Fair grew.

Federal authorities now say they arrested more than 360 people at two Southern California marijuana farms last week, characterizing the raids as one of the largest operations since President Donald Trump took office in January.