An brazen worker at one of the city’s thousands of unlicensed cannabis stores has delivered a message to New York’s cannabis police promising to padlock stores like his. — bring it on!
A defiant clerk who denounces authorities works at a gelato on 86th Street in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. — However, this store does not serve any of the popular Italian ice cream.
“It’s nothing new. We’ve always had the possibility of being attacked here. But I’m not going to quit my job!” The Post, who declined to give his name during a visit on Sunday, smoked marijuana. The worker said:
“I’ll set up a table outside and sell on the street. I won’t think anything of it! You shouldn’t touch other people’s money!”
He added: “They are paying to house illegal immigrants and get votes for Biden, so this is what they do?” Would you like to come raid a pot shop?
said the employee who offered a Post photographer a dose of the product. Everyone will adjust. ”
However, the store has been the subject of complaints from neighbors.
And the store is one of more than 100 illegal marijuana dispensaries The Post was able to identify in a short period of time by contacting a handful of elected officials, community boards and business groups. be.
Community Board 10 District Manager Josephine Beckman warned the Post about gelato pot shops when she provided a list of suspected unlicensed marijuana shops on lawns in Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights and Fort Hamilton in south Brooklyn. did.
“The place we get the most complaints about is gelato. (It’s not an ice cream shop) but it’s an unlicensed pharmacy near some schools,” she said.
The store has become notorious among the neighbors because its customers bring trouble to the neighborhood.
“If the police came today and locked down that place and never opened it again, my life would immediately get better,” said one disgusted mother. Gelato customer base.
“They came a few times and we were all happy thinking, oh thank God they’re going to clear that place!” And then nothing happened. did. They never got rid of it.
“So we just kind of got used to the idea that this is going to happen and we’re all going to deal with it.”
Gelato’s smoke-in-the-face reaction comes as some New Yorkers wonder where the marijuana crackdown promised by Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul has gone.
Mayors and governors recently announced a promised crackdown to shut down illegal marijuana dispensaries after holding a triumphant press conference heralding approval of stricter state laws to padlock unlicensed dispensaries. It has not been activated yet.
“The crackdown should have started last week,” said Staten Island Borough President Vito Fosella, who estimated there were more than 100 illegal smoking establishments in all of orderly Richmond County.
There are only four licensed hot pot shops in the ward.
“We are calling for further enforcement. This is a serious quality of life issue,” he said.
Rep. Gail Brewer — The Upper West Side is full of illegal marijuana shops. — She told the Post that as chair of the marijuana enforcement panel, she plans to hold oversight hearings and send a letter to the mayor calling for a declaration of war on marijuana.
“I want to know what the plan is…The city got everything the mayor wanted. I believe in the law,” Brewer said in an interview Sunday.
“We need to padlock these stores… We need to padlock them, that’s the only way to stop them.” [them]”
The Big Apple has 50 licensed marijuana dispensaries, compared to about 2,000 illegal smoke shops, according to the city sheriff’s office.
Asked about enforcement, a Hochul spokesperson said, “The new Cannabis Control Act gives local governments the power to shut down illegal stores, including in New York City.” For more information on recent enforcement activity, please contact the New York City Sheriff’s Office. ”
The state Office of Cannabis Control is expected to update regulations to implement the new padlock law at the May 10 Cannabis Control Commission meeting.
But Hochul’s office said New York City officials were given new enforcement powers “immediately” after the law was approved. — The tools Adams asked Albany for.
While Gellert was defiant, other unlicensed cannabis operators are wary.
Post reporters and photographers were unable to enter the 86 Exotic Shop on 86th Street in Bay Ridge. This was because the employees feared that the reporters were police officers. There was heavy video surveillance and a sign in the window that read, “Please remove all masks and hoodies.” ”
Owner of an unlicensed cannabis shop located at 105-12 Coss Bay Blvd. At Ozone Park, he seemed resigned to the idea that his best days might be over.
“It’s over anyway,” said the middle-aged owner, shaking his head. “We had already decided to become a telemarketer. ‘It’s almost over.’
The Post reached out to City Hall for comment, but officials referred the reporter to previous statements the mayor made at a news conference last week.
“I think there are 2,800 people. Our team is going to be ready to attack those 2,800 stores,” Adams said of the illegal stores.
Asked when the crackdown would begin, Adams said battle plans were still being finalized.
“The goal is that they’ve already built this to be operational. So as soon as the ink is dry, we’re going to execute,” the mayor said.
“We will make better use of human resources. What I am thinking about is mobilizing human resources.”
“We will be inspecting businesses near schools, places of worship and parks,” City Sheriff Anthony Miranda said Sunday.
“Nobody’s sleeping on this,” the sheriff said. “We’re putting the pieces together. Once we get out there, people will know. We’ll be very visible and people will know that the tide has turned.”
Cannabis industry insiders also await promised closures of illegal cannabis stores — The number of licensed stores is also increasing.
“Crackdowns are only part of the solution. Cannabis industry lobbyist Joe Rossi said more cannabis stores need to be licensed to stifle illegal establishments.
