They plan to smoke out the bad guys.
In a somewhat premature victory Friday, Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams will use newly passed state law to crack down on what they call a “scourge” of illegal cannabis stores across the state. I promised.
Hochul promised that “a crackdown will begin immediately.”
Earlier this year, Adams and other municipal leaders petitioned the city of Albany for new powers to allow local police to shut down hundreds of unlicensed stores openly selling marijuana.
“This is not a setback, it’s a step forward in ensuring we have legal marijuana dispensaries,” Adams said after posing for a photo with Hochul.
Police will be able to take a number of actions in a package of legislation to crack down on illegal marijuana shops.
These include:
- Seek a civil order to close any store believed to be selling cannabis products without a license.
- If there is any suspicion of an illegal drug shop, an inspection will be carried out.
- Retailers selling cannabis without a license will be subject to fines ranging from $100 to $10,000 per day, up to a total of $25,000.
- Seal off storefronts.
- Landlords can be fined up to $50,000.
- If a store is found to be illegally distributing cannabis, its license to sell tobacco, lottery tickets, and alcohol will be revoked.
Hochul said the measure would “restore stability and order” and, with a few puns, “eliminate illegal stores,” so stores with state or city licenses would be “rewarded by up-and-coming businesses.” We can grow and make our dreams come true.”
Adams, City Councilwoman Gale Brewer and New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda flanked her at the event.
Miranda has played a major role in Adams’ crackdown on stores, including raiding illegal stores. But those efforts were largely in vain because state law prohibits padlocking stores after an attack, allowing them to quickly turn around and reopen the store.
“As soon as they cross the T’s and dot the I’s, we’re going to start operations right away. Once the content of this bill is finalized, we’re going to move forward to shut down these illegal stores. We are dedicating all our resources to this effort,” Miranda told the Post in a statement.
The new measure was passed by both chambers of the state Legislature on Thursday and is expected to be signed into law as part of the state budget in the coming days.
“We’re getting it done. Legalization isn’t about breaking the law, it’s about following the law. Today, we take an important step in supporting the legal cannabis market,” Adams said. He promised.
