By Forum Staff
Since launching “Operation Padlock to Protect” — a multi-agency task force made up of members from the Sheriff’s Office, the NYPD, and City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection — the City has sealed a total of 779 illegal cannabis shops and issued 41,502 counts of violations amounting to $65,671,487 in penalties, Mayor Eric Adams, City Sheriff Anthony Miranda, City Police Commissioner Edward Caban, and DCWP Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga announced on Wednesday.
The administration estimates it has already seized a total value of $41,443,792 in illegal products. Over the month of July alone, “Operation Padlock to Protect” conducted several successful enforcement actions aimed at targeting the manufacturing, processing, and distribution networks of illegal cannabis suppliers across the five boroughs. These operations resulted in a combined $8 million of illegal products being taken off city streets, Hizzoner beamed.
“For too long, illegal shops have contributed to a feeling that anything goes on our streets, while targeting our most vulnerable — including children — with dangerous, counterfeit products marketed as candy,” Adams said. “But today, we are celebrating that this is no longer being tolerated and we are making huge gains to protect communities and usher in a legal cannabis market that will thrive. I thank Sheriff Miranda, Commissioner Caban, and Commissioner Mayuga for overseeing this highly successful enforcement operation. I also extend deep thanks to our partners in Albany, especially Governor Hochul, for giving us the legal authority we needed to stub out these illegal shops.”
“Operation Padlock to Protect” systematically conducts joint operations in neighborhoods across the five boroughs, which include inspections and follow-up inspections. When operators are ordered to be sealed, local NYPD precincts monitor those locations to ensure compliance and alert the Sheriff’s Office when violations of the seal order occur.
“Time after time, we have found illegal cannabis shops selling dangerous counterfeit products that are directly marketed to children,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. “These stores, which sell untaxed and unregulated products, are the source of countless community complaints. Legal vendors are making safety and compliance their top priority and they shouldn’t be undercut by lawbreakers. Shutting these unlicensed stores down is a team effort, and I thank our partners at the Governor’s Office, the Mayor’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office, and the NYPD for their commitment to removing these illegal businesses from our communities.”
Adams noted that the legalization of cannabis is intended to create a new economy to emerge in the Empire State, while addressing the harmful impact of the “War on Drugs” on Black and Brown New Yorkers. For Gotham’s new cannabis economy and justice-involved businesses to thrive, the city and state must protect the development of the legal market. To do so, the Adams administration launched Cannabis NYC under the City Department of Small Business Services to provide free resources and services for all New Yorkers interested in the cannabis industry. Cannabis NYC has engaged over 5,000 New Yorkers on its five-borough “Lift Off! Cannabis NYC” public education, listening, and outreach tour and over 200 New Yorkers have participated in the FastTrac for Cannabis Entrepreneurs sessions, which connects legal cannabis business owners and entrepreneurs with free, high-quality training and advice delivered by leading voices in the legal cannabis industry.
