An astounding 1,400 shops have popped up around New York City
that are illegally selling cannabis products - a situation that alarmed lawmakers decried as the “Wild, Wild West” during a City City Council hearing Wednesday.
City Sheriff Anthony Miranda and representatives of the NYPD testified that existing laws make it difficult to immediately close illicit shops and often can issue only measly $250 fines for selling pot without a license - hardly a deterrent even after seizing illegal weed and edibles.
Miranda said illegal smoke shops are “rampant throughout the city” - noting 1,400 stores are being targeted and inspected by authorities for suspected illegal activity.
Just one legal weed shop is currently open in New York City with a second expected to open next week.
But all the legal and illicit sales - combined with use of pot products being legalized - has left city streets smelling decidedly skunky.
Mayor Eric Adams last year created a 'cannabis task force' to crack down on the illegal pot market, corralling a hodgepodge of agencies with enforcement powers including the sheriff’s office, the NYPD and Department of Consumer Affairs.
NYC has a lot more criminals, but nobody is stopping them either.
ReplyDeleteweed is the least of NYC's problems
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