Governor Kathy Hochul of New York announced plans to overhaul the Office of Cannabis Management following a scathing report labeling the state's legal cannabis rollout as a failure due to inexperienced leadership and lack of transparency. The report highlighted missteps such as an underspent budget and the flourishing of an illegal market. In response, the state has initiated a crackdown on illegal cannabis shops, with NYC shutting down 75 illicit weed shops in the first week of the operation.
LOCKED UP 🔐 Since Operation Padlock to Protect began last week, 75 illegal cannabis shops have been shut down across NYC. Our joint law enforcement teams have also issued nearly $6 MILLION in penalties and 3,300 violations. Latest update: https://t.co/1Fg8HK3GRS https://t.co/upTNvYUUlq
NYC shutters 75 illicit weed shops in first week of crackdown, with hundreds and hundreds to go The first batch of closures mark a drop in the bucket as there are believed to be some 3,000 illegal pot shops operating in the Big Apple https://t.co/lAZdfMIV58
"Illegal businesses prey on and target our most vulnerable, including children, selling dangerous, counterfeit products and creating eyesores across our city." @NYCMayor discusses why it's important we crack down on illegal smoke shops once and for all: https://t.co/85z8oVqA8C
There are police with riot shields raiding stores in groups of 10+, but almost everyone I know (growers, store owners, lounge operators) in New York cannabis still hasn't even been able to *apply* for a license. It is a farce. https://t.co/nVw8fb45r9
Good. These illegal shops are magnets for troublemakers, and the fact that they’ve opened up near schools, houses of worship, and family-friendly parks is a problem: “The city has launched an operation aimed at shutting down unlicensed cannabis shops.” https://t.co/eLWdHCWQBE
Mission Impossible: New York City Says It's Finally Cracking Down on Illegal Smoke Shops https://t.co/PZ6BNLLgKU https://t.co/CNUNCYzpgQ
Those who flout the cannabis laws and regulations are robbing the very communities that are finally on the cusp of benefiting from a just and equitable system. These new enforcement powers make it clear: If you operate an illegal smoke shop, you will be shut down.…
New York Cannabis Director Out As Hochul Announces 'Overhaul' Of Troubled Office https://t.co/WZ3kduob7z
Now that NYS finally gave municipalities like NYC the authority to directly close illegal weed shops, it was great to see enforcement conducted in #District29 (Richmond Hill). Was proud to be an early supporter of @JeniferRajkumar SMOKEOUT bill that was the impetus to making this…
We’re coming for the illegal smoke shop on your block. After securing new tools from New York State allowing NYC to padlock shops illegally selling cannabis, we launched a five-borough initiative to weed out and shut down these unlawful operations. 🔒 https://t.co/pR2kbKC1JH
Gov. Kathy Hochul is promising to overhaul the New York State Office of Cannabis Management after a report called the rollout of legal cannabis a failure. @AliBaumanTV talked to applicants who have been waiting on the state to open their new businesses. https://t.co/bFO0wShZrt
A scathing new report calls New York's legal cannabis rollout a failure, saying inexperienced leadership and a lack of transparency has allowed an illegal market to flourish. @AliBaumanTV has more on the business owners who are caught in the middle. https://t.co/bFO0wShZrt
A new report released Friday says the cannabis rollout in New York state was a failure. According to a review that was ordered by Gov. Kathy Hochul, inexperienced leadership and an underspent budget are just a few of several missteps. @MKramerTV reports. https://t.co/bFO0wShZrt
Gov. Hochul said the New York State's much-maligned Office of Cannabis Management will get new leadership and streamline its torpid permitting process for retailers. https://t.co/8JHClbCgK3
NY Cannabis Head Chris Alexander Ousted as State Begins ‘Overhaul’ of Agency https://t.co/mDMfCf7KDC