Wild West: 1,400 illegal marijuana shops open in New York, already wreaking havoc

An astounding 1,400 stores have sprung up in New York City that illegally sell cannabis products – a situation that alarmed lawmakers denounced as the “Wild, Wild West” during a City Council hearing on Wednesday.

City Sheriff Anthony Miranda and NYPD officials testified that existing laws make it difficult for illegal stores to close immediately and can often only impose minor $250 fines for unlicensed marijuana sales, hardly a deterrent even after illegal marijuana and food items have been seized. products.

Miranda said illegal smokehouses are “running all over the city,” noting that 1,400 stores are being pursued and checked by authorities for suspected illegal activity.

There is currently only one legal marijuana store open in New York, with a second expected to open next week. But because of all the legal and illegal sales – combined with the legalized use of marijuana – the city streets smell decidedly stinky.

Mayor Eric Adams last year created a task force to crack down on the illegal marijuana market, which includes agencies with enforcement powers, including the sheriff’s office, the NYPD and the Department of Consumer Affairs.

More disturbing than the spread itself, council member after council member told horror stories about the ease with which teenage schoolchildren were able to access cannabis on the black market.

Councilwoman Carlina Rivera, who represents the Lower East Side, said high school students used credit cards to buy cannabis.

“We have a lot of work to do,” said council member Gail Brewer, who chairs the oversight and investigation committee.

“Many advertising campaigns are aimed at children. There are many health problems, a danger to society. We want to make sure they comply,” Miranda said during a hearing held jointly by the Council’s committees on oversight and investigation, consumer affairs and health.

The NYPD’s 311 data system received 951 complaints about illegal cannabis shops, according to Chief of Patrol John Chell.

Chell said illegal marijuana shops — with large amounts of cash on the premises — were also a bonanza for scammers.

The number of robberies in smokehouses has more than doubled. A total of $1.5 million was stolen, he said, or an average of $2,500 across 593 reported robberies.

Chell said nearly a third of smoke shop robberies were committed by teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19.

He said the thieves robbed several smokehouse stores in different areas overnight, adding that three stores were robbed on Tuesday evening.

“The same group of people. This is a challenge for us,” Chell said.

None other than State Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan), author of the law that legalized recreational cannabis use, called the number of illegal stores “wild, wild west.”

“They are busy violating a number of our laws. What he’s doing is detrimental to the whole model that we’ve worked so hard to build and validate across the state,” Krueger said, speaking remotely at the Board’s investigative hearing in Albany.

Krueger said she is in talks with Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office to develop a new state law to strengthen enforcement by making it easier for authorities to financially punish and close illegal stores.

The new legislation will increase fines and tax violations, make it easier to confiscate illegal marijuana, and penalize landlords for allowing illegal shops to operate on their property.

Sheriff Miranda said notices are being sent out to landlords that a tenant is illegally selling cannabis.

“If you run one of these illegal stores, you won’t get a license. Period. Because you know you’re breaking the law, and that’s not okay,” Senator Kruger said.

Hochul spokeswoman Hazel Crampton-Hayes said: “We continue to work with our partners to enforce the law and explore all possible mechanisms available to protect New Yorkers and shut down illegal operators.”

Shoppers buying cannabis at the only open legal pharmacy, the Housing Works on Broadway in Greenwich Village, supported the crackdown on illegal stores.

“I’ve been to other stores – you know, fake ones. The ones that advertise CBD but also sell edibles and regular weed. But you don’t know what you are getting in these places. You know what’s going on in pharmacies,” said Jason Brown, a 47-year-old construction worker from Babylon, Long Island.

“It’s regulated and safer. You get the full layout of what’s in it..”

Brown supported the fight against illegal stores with huge fines because “you want to pay a million dollars for permission to open a business here, and then they will let everyone else open a business on every corner and sell without permission?

Hannah, a 21-year-old resident of Crown Heights, said illegal shopping in Brooklyn was “all right”.
“They don’t check your ID and it’s not as secure as it is here,” she said of the state-licensed housing work dispensary.

This is very amazing. To be honest, I feel like I don’t smoke weed when I go there.”

She said she expects better weed from licensed stores, but added, “If these illegal places don’t sell products that you trip over and end up in the hospital, okay, go for it.”

The surrounding unlicensed weed shops didn’t seem to care about the state-licensed pharmacy nearby.

At the Lush Smoke Shop on McDougal Street, one worker said people prefer cannabis products because they are stronger, not “medium” like Housing Works weed.

The store sells popular black market products such as Punch Bars (edibles) and prerolls.

One customer said, “I prefer their pre-rolls because they taste better and are uplifting.”