NYC to start padlocking illegal pot shops: 'Soon as the ink dries, we're going to execute'
NEW YORK (PIX11) -- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced the state's FY25 budget, which includes a plan to shut down stores selling marijuana illegally.
The budget, which was approved on Saturday, authorizes the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) to padlock stores violating the state's marijuana laws.
The plan allows for the OCM to padlock illegal "storefronts immediately following an inspection if they are selling illicit cannabis and pose an imminent threat to health and safety," according to the state's website. Officials will start "cracking down on landlords," launch a task force that will be statewide and expand local authorities to allow cities to adopt their own cannabis regulation laws.
New York City will also be given "immediate enforcement powers to inspect, issue violations, and seize cannabis and padlock stores," the state's website said.
Mayor Eric Adams was asked on Tuesday about the new plan and said New York City is ready.
"I think we have 2,800," Adams said about illegal stores officials have identified. "So the team is going to be ready to go hit those 2,800 ... They're already building out the operationalizing of this. So soon as the ink dries, we're going to execute," Adams added.
The city could also padlock a store if there is an imminent threat to health and safety, such as:
- Sales to minors
- Unlicensed processing of cannabis
- Violent conduct
- Presence of unlawful firearms
- Proximity to schools, houses of worship or public youth facilities
- Products leading to illness or hospitalization
- Products not tested or labeled according to New York law
"If there is an imminent threat to safety from an illegal smoke shop, such as being close to a school or a documented instance of selling to a minor, we now have the authority to immediately issue a violation and padlock the shop. In cases where there is a non-imminent threat, we can also move swiftly. The city can issue a violation and thousands of dollars in fines, and if we go back 10 days later and there's still an issue, we can immediately padlock," said Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Director Tiffany Raspberry.
The budget's approval came almost three weeks late, originally due on April 1.
Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in New York City and Washington, D.C. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here, and follow him on X and Facebook @OfficialRizk. Get in touch at jonathan.rizk@pix11.com.