By Forum Staff
Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced the start of a five-borough operation to shut down unlicensed smoke and cannabis shops in the Big Apple.
After municipalities were given the regulatory authority by the State to finally shut down these illegal shops plaguing NYC streets last month, the City established formal rules allowing the City’s Sheriff Office — along with other local law enforcement agencies — to padlock smoke and cannabis shops without a license. On Tuesday morning, Adams, City Sheriff Anthony Miranda, the City Police Department, and the City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection kicked off “Operation Padlock to Protect,” giving law enforcement the ability to inspect smoke and cannabis shops and padlock those caught unlawfully selling cannabis.
The legalization of cannabis has allowed a new economy to emerge in New York state while addressing the harmful impact of the “War on Drugs” on Black and brown New Yorkers, Adams said. However, for New York City’s new cannabis economy and justice-involved businesses to thrive, the City and State must protect the development of the legal market, Hizzoner added.
Prior to securing municipal enforcement powers against unlicensed smoke and cannabis shops, the Adams administration used every tool available to protect young people from dangerous, illegal cannabis and tobacco products, while sending a clear message that anyone helping these illegal, unlicensed shops to spread throughout the five boroughs will be held accountable. Coordinating with both City and State authorities, the Adams administration formed the New York City Sheriff’s Office Joint Compliance Task Force to Address Illegal Smoke Shops. This task force conducted enforcement against unlicensed establishments selling cannabis, cannabis-infused edibles, illegal vaping products, illegal cigarettes, and other illegal tobacco products, and, since forming, has imposed almost $108 million in penalties — including an estimated $33 million in illegal products seized and over $75 million in civil penalties issued — and conducted more than 2,100 compliance and intelligence inspections.
Additionally, the task force sent letters to 603 landlords and owners of buildings across the five boroughs warning that they could be legally liable for the continued unlicensed sale of cannabis or tobacco products by their tenants. Between last summer and last month, the city filed two lawsuits in federal and state court against a total of 15 e-cigarette distributors that operate as the upstream suppliers of illegal, exotic-flavored, disposable e-cigarettes to the same retail vape and smoke shops, as well as convenience stores that are the target of “Operation Padlock to Protect.”
“Today, our administration is delivering on a promise to shut down unlicensed smoke and cannabis shops, protect our young people, and ensure that the future of legal cannabis burns bright in New York City,” Adams said. “Thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul and our partners in the State Legislature, New York City is now using the full force of the law across every borough to padlock and protect our streets. Legal cannabis remains the right choice for our city, but to those who choose to break the law — we will shut you down.”
