NYC To Go After Landlords Of Unlicensed Weed Shops

Gothamist reports:

New York City officials are pushing a new method for cracking down on illegal weed shops in the city: going after the landlords. More than half of the City Council’s members are sponsoring a bill that will lead to serious penalties for people who knowingly lease space to unlicensed sellers of marijuana, tobacco and other controlled substances.

Last year, Mayor Eric Adams created a task force specifically aimed at these unlicensed – and untaxed – sellers. In February, the Manhattan district attorney asked landlords to evict tenants who are operating these illegal shops. And last month, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation that allows shops to be fined up to $20,000 a day for unlicensed sales.

Read the full article.

Per the New York state Cannabis Management Authority, there are currently only seven authorized recreational dispensaries in New York City, four of which are in Manhattan. It’s believed that hundreds of bodegas are selling unlicensed weed.

New York City officials are pushing a new method for cracking down on the presence of illegal weed shops in the city: going after the landlords. https://t.co/H9SsKmzznj

— Gothamist (@Gothamist) June 13, 2023