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By: Jared Evan
New York City is issuing a stern warning to approximately 50 landlords who are allegedly permitting the operation of illegal cannabis and tobacco stores within their buildings, even after these establishments have been officially closed down by the city. Mayor Eric Adams’ enforcement team dispatched cautionary letters to these landlords, emphasizing that they could face substantial fines if they fail to keep the locations closed, NY Post reported.
These landlords have been renting space to unlicensed pot and tobacco shops, which were previously padlocked and slapped with penalties totaling around $7 million. Shockingly, some of these prohibited establishments have managed to reopen despite the city’s closure orders. The warning letters conveyed to the landlords outlined potential fines of $1,000 per day if the locations are not promptly shuttered again.
In a joint letter sent on Monday by Adams’ Office of Special Enforcement, Sheriff Anthony Miranda, and NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, the landlords were reminded that it is their responsibility to ensure that the premises comply with applicable laws. Furthermore, the letter stated that the city is empowered to request that building owners or landlords take action to remove tenants from the property.
The consequences for non-compliance are severe, with authorities able to impose fines and even initiate permanent eviction proceedings against the landlords who refuse to cooperate. The city has already imposed over $7 million in penalties at these 50 locations, encompassing approximately $3.9 million in illegal cannabis or tobacco seizures and an additional $3.2 million in civil penalties.
These storefronts are part of a larger trend of illicit pot shops that have emerged in the city following the legalization of cannabis. Despite lacking the necessary licenses for recreational cannabis sales, these shops continue to operate. The city has already imposed more than $63 million in penalties on illegal shops, including $40.5 million in illegal product seizures and $23 million in civil penalties, coupled with over 1,300 inspections.
“Woke “regulations have made it difficult to obtain the license to legally sell the beloved green plant to the eager masses, who have been buying an endless flow of unlicensed marijuana at local pirate shops, who often sell exotic snacks such as Japanese Cheetos to go along with the marijuana.
In Times Square, the area known in the past as the “Red Light District”, is becoming the “Green District”, as former porno shops are now weed shops. Meanwhile in the Bronx, more marijuana is being smoked per second, than you can possibly imagine as the entire borough smells like one big joint.
Mayor Adams emphasized that his administration is utilizing every available tool to combat the proliferation of dangerous, illegal cannabis and tobacco products. Sheriff Miranda echoed this sentiment, noting that building owners are on notice and risk being put out of business if they fail to comply.
Police Commissioner Edward Caban asserted the NYPD’s commitment to eliminating unlicensed, illegal smoke shops that pose significant public safety and health risks throughout the five boroughs.
Meanwhile, the state Cannabis Control Board voted to settle a lawsuit accusing it of favoring convicted pot dealers over disabled veterans in the allocation of cannabis licenses, NY Post reported.
“I think the entire cannabis license program is a mess, here on White Plains Road and Pelham, there are 3 unlicensed shops, the locals love them,” a local reader from the Bronx told TJV News.
