The first is an industry-focused map tailored for applicants, licensees, and stakeholders, featuring advanced capabilities such as generating proximity reports, searching licenses, exporting data, and navigating multiple data layers.
The second tool ... is a consumer-focused dispensary map allowing New Yorkers to easily locate the nearest legal dispensary, ensuring access to safe, regulated cannabis products.
Still, despite the efforts of local law enforcement (under the New York City Sheriff's Joint Compliance Task Force), the fines, the restraining orders, etc., some places find a way to return.Unlicensed dispensaries do not comply with regulations meant to protect health + life, and some have been found to sell to minors and host other illegal activity. More locations in our community have been closed, and we encourage you to continue reporting locations to our office. pic.twitter.com/he5tF0aBCQ
— NYC Council Member Carlina Rivera (@CMCarlinaRivera) August 8, 2024
Nearly 3,000 unlicensed cannabis stores are estimated to have opened across New York City since 2021, when a state bill was passed legalizing recreational marijuana and allowing for the distribution of retail cannabis licenses. There are 132 licensed adult-use dispensaries across the state, according to the Office of Cannabis Management, with 62 in the city.
... the rollout of the licensed shops has stumbled, tripped up by lawsuits, bureaucratic delays and a lack of financial assistance for retailers. At one point, policymakers promised to provide turnkey storefronts for new business owners. Those promises never came through.
Introduction 1001-B, now 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.
"My recently enacted legislation ... will help shut down the illegal cannabis and smoke shops that have proliferated our city and created public health and safety hazards in our communities. This legislation is a game changer and adds another tool to the enforcement toolbox against these harmful businesses."
... agencies that conduct inspections for unlicensed marijuana or tobacco sales and find such activity may provide written notice to the property owner requiring they ensure such unlicensed activity is ceased, serving as the basis of the violation. Any subsequent inspection that finds continued violation would make the landlord subject to a $5,000 civil penalty at first, and a $10,000 penalty for each subsequent violation. The commencement of an eviction proceeding shall be considered an affirmative defense for a landlord.It is estimated that New York City is home to approximately 8,000 illegal, unlicensed smoke shops [ed note: half of which seem to be in the East Village]. Consequently, sales by illicit stores undermine the licensed recreational marijuana market, depriving New Yorkers of the tax revenues and community reinvestment funds generated from the 13% tax on legal sales. The products sold in unlawful stores are unregulated and therefore can pose health risks to consumers.
Meanwhile, to avoid detection, several readers have noted at least two shops have removed their signage and only open in the evenings when a coordinated raid is less likely.
