NYC Targets 2,500 Illegal Cannabis Shops for Quick Closures with New Law

Apr 19, 2024, 03:06 PM

New York Governor Kathy Hochul and NYC Mayor Adams have announced a legislative package aimed at cracking down on the approximately 2,500 unlicensed cannabis shops in New York City, with community group support. The new legislation, secured in recent budget negotiations, enables quick closures of these illegal establishments and empowers local authorities, including the NYC Sheriff, to inspect and shut them down. This initiative, part of Gov. Hochul's broader budget proposals, also received support from local lawmakers, including Councilmember Gale Brewer, who has been a vocal advocate for stricter cannabis regulations and is known for her assertiveness, famously noted by Hochul as 'never get in her way'. The legislation is designed to not only close current unlicensed shops but also deter future violations.