Image via Harvey Epstein's office
Local elected officials came together yesterday to speak out against unlicensed cannabis shops in Lower Manhattan and call on landlords to stop renting to these businesses.
Assemblymember Harvey Epstein, Councilmember Carlina Rivera and Sen. Brian Kavanagh gathered with community members outside Go Green Dispensary on the SE corner of 10th Street and First Avenue.
Officials pointed out that this dispensary is close to multiple schools (East Side Community School and PS 19 East Village Community School) and the mosque on 11th Street and First Avenue.
According to officials, legal cannabis dispensaries — licensed by the New York State Office of Cannabis Management — are prohibited from operating within 500 feet of a school or 200 feet of a religious institution.
As of August, a new city law that holds commercial landlords responsible for renting storefronts to unlicensed cannabis shops is in effect.
Introduction 1001-B, known as Local Law 107 of 2023, prohibits owners of commercial spaces from knowingly leasing to unlicensed sellers of marijuana or tobacco products, imposing fines of up to $10,000 on landlords for violations.
During the rally, Epstein announced that he was sending letters to the landlords of 22 shops stating their renters were selling cannabis illegally and advising them of their responsibilities under the law and penalties for failure to comply.
"Unlicensed cannabis shops are a threat to consumers, the legal market, and our entire
community,” Epstein said. “As a supporter of the Marijuana
Regulation and Taxation Act, I believe that the sale of cannabis should be used as an instrument
of social justice, allowing individuals who have suffered the impact of criminalization to enter
the market legally and receive priority status when applying for their licenses. Unlicensed shops
like these perilously undermine that goal while also evading safety requirements and taxes."
Representatives from Housing Works Cannabis Co., NYC's first legal dispensary that opened last December on Broadway at Eighth Street, were also present to talk about the negative impact these businesses have on the legal market.
"Currently operated illegal cannabis businesses are supported by multiple out-of-state and international investors. These investors can afford to pay the fines and renegotiate terms for retail space," said Anthony Feliciano, vice president of the advocacy department at Housing Works. "Additionally, landlords repeatedly allow their commercial storefronts to be re-opened by either the same tenant or a new renter after being seized by the sheriff's department. We need more administrative mechanisms and legislation designed to get the landlord's attention."
Good for Epstein. The presence of hundreds of blatantly illegal retailers is such an obvious representation of how as a society we have decided to stop enforcing so many laws.
ReplyDeleteThe government wants their cut. There's no difference between these stores except price.
ReplyDeleteThere are too many of these shops in the area. However I do not agree that the landlords of these properties should be the ones to “police” or “vet” the shops, it is not the landlords responsibility.
ReplyDeleteAll they had / have to do was implement the same policy that liquor stores follow to sell alcohol and all of this would have been avoided. How fast would you be shut down if you are selling alcohol without a license?
ReplyDelete@7:26 are you crazy? Of course landlords need to be responsible for what their tenants are doing
We already have enough action with the homeless folks with their tents on 9th street also on first avenue. Why no mention of those folks?
ReplyDeleteWhile grandstanding around these retailers perhaps our elected representatives might take a walk through TSP where just inside the 8th Street / Avenue A entrance there is an open air marketplace for Tranq immediately adjacent to the children's playground. Though admittedly that might require one of them actually doing something.
ReplyDeleteIf you are dumb enough to buy whatever those stores are selling you deserve all the brain damage you get. In other words you have no facts to what you are inhaling, chemicals and other toxins besides the fact you are inhaling burnt substances.
ReplyDeleteWhy are our local and national governments a total shit show? Corruption, greed, and apathy permeates internally and without much transparency or resolution. It seems impossible to carefully monitor who is adhering legally to the guidelines and rules set forth by those in Albany. Even though I don't partake in the usage of marijuana, I would encourage those who happily do to only patronize businesses that are mandated and approved by the state. If I purchased 420 in any form elsewhere, my concern would be where did this product originate from, and what is it laced with? Perhaps some aren't bothered by this? Whenever I pass the shop on Broadway and 8th, there is always a line, which is a good sign I gather.
ReplyDeleteMark that is exactly correct that responsible citizens who buy these products should do so only at officially licensed outlets. Yes it costs more but it also mitigates many of the negative aspects of illegal sourcing from other countries and in our own. Our neighborhood has gone to shit and we each need to behave differently if we want different outcomes.
DeleteIts all about convenience to many people. Isn't that what NYC is about? Why walk blocks when all you have to do is pretty much walk to th3 nearest cornmer to buy... and for à cheaper price!
ReplyDeletethat’s one of the better weed stores. It ain’t bothering no one. and no one cares the liquor stores next to schools and the mosque? Times are-a changing old heads
ReplyDeleteThanks, 10:43. I agree.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather walk a few extra blocks to ensure the marijuana I am purchasing is not only legitimate and clean, but will also eliminate the illegality of such a transaction. I have a friend who bought 420 from an unlicensed shop, and almost passed away from what it is what laced with, and he was a 43 year old professional with no prior issues. Luckily, he is alright now, but he was sick, and incapacitated for days. Not worth it. Be a responsible adult when purchasing and using 420. No judgments. Just be careful. Otherwise, enjoy.
Weed is weed man, you think the street dealers two years ago were carrying around licenses? C'mon son.
ReplyDeleteToo little too late. The city/state totally screwed up the rollout on this. Now, let these people have their business. These stores aren't all profitable. Many will close without intervention.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the unlicensed should not be arrested for selling pot sans license…
ReplyDeleteI am urging the unlicensed to undercut the legal stores by selling in front of their stores…
Should any legal store prosecute
They will be harassed for snitching
The selection and price range for the legal stuff is a joke. This could have all been prevented if Albany didn't turn this straightforward legalization into a virtue signaling olympics with all the superfluous requirements.
ReplyDeleteIf the city and state got their act together and issued licenses to entrepeneurs who are ready to serve the community, this wouldn't be an issue.
ReplyDeleteJust another failure on the part of the "liberals" who are supposed to be serving the community instead of harrassing them.