Frustrated civic leaders in central Queens are opposing a licensed cannabis store planned for their neighborhood until authorities padlock all illegal stores.
Shelley Algredo, chair of Community Board 9, which covers Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill and Ozone Park, said: “The board is already concerned about the proliferation of illegal smoking establishments operating in the area and the impact these establishments have on the local community. “We have received many concerns from residents about the negative impact it is having.” Woodhaven told state regulators in a recent letter.
“Therefore, the Board will not support new applications until these illegal activities are closed,” Algredo wrote in a letter to the New York Cannabis Control Board.
Under state law legalizing marijuana, applicants for a cannabis license must notify and appear before the community board in the area where they want to open a store.
Although the board’s recommendations are advice to state regulators, they still have influence.
Last week, the newspaper reported that New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul held a victory lap press conference to welcome stricter state laws that would make it easier to padlock unlicensed marijuana stores. Visited a number of places.
Enforcement under the new law has not yet taken place.
Many illegal cannabis stores quickly reopened after raids and temporary closure orders under the much-maligned previous rules.
“There are 32 illegal cannabis stores. Until the unlicensed stores are closed, we will not accept any applications for legal cannabis stores,” CB9 District Manager James McClelland told the Post.
City officials have indicated that a promised crackdown on illegal spots could occur this week and could include raids on dozens of locations.
City Sheriff Anthony Miranda said marijuana officers raided “20 to 25” unlicensed marijuana stores last week under previous rules. That includes a “gelato” shop in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, featured in last Sunday’s Post, where rebellious workers urged authorities to shut it down. under.
“We picked it up,” Miranda said. “We are not going to stop.
“We are taking a methodical and systematic approach to clearing illegal stores.”
City officials estimate there are more than 2,000 illegal drug stores and smoke shops across the five boroughs, so there’s a lot of work to be done.
The city’s 59 community boards are vetting hundreds of people applying for state cannabis permits. And many local leaders are wary of overcrowding neighborhoods with even legal drug stores, citing quality-of-life concerns similar to those raised with the marijuana issue. Illegal store.
Critics have complained about everything from the smell to concerns that the product will attract children.
Thirteen community boards in southern Brooklyn, including Coney Island Brighton Beach, Coney Island, Gravesend, and Seagate, opposed all six current applications (primarily along Surf and Neptune avenues), primarily because of their location. He said there was.
By law, a licensed marijuana dispensary cannot be located within 500 feet of a school or 200 feet of a house of worship. There is only one legal pot dispensary within a 300 foot radius.
Bronx Community Board 6, which covers Bathgate, Belmont, East Tremont and West Farms, opposed all of the applications, citing most location-based code violations.
The state Cannabis Control Commission is scheduled to meet Friday to discuss implementing a new state law that would allow local governments to padlock illegal stores pending a final administrative appeal.
