The New York City mayor and governor recently heralded the approval of a tougher law to shut down unlicensed cannabis shops, but the promised crackdown has not yet materialized. Despite the law being in place, there are still over 100 illegal smoke shops in the city according to Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella. Councilwoman Gale Brewer is calling for more enforcement and plans to hold an oversight hearing on cannabis enforcement. The city sheriff’s office estimates there are around 2,000 illegal smoke shops compared to only 50 licensed cannabis shops in New York City.
One of the defiant unlicensed pot shops in the city is Gelato on 86th Street in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. The workers at Gelato openly challenged authorities, stating that they would continue to sell cannabis regardless of any crackdown. Community Board 10 district manager, Josephine Beckmann, brought attention to Gelato as one of the most complained-about locations due to its proximity to several schools. Neighbors have expressed frustration with the shop and its customers, with one mother stating that she would be immediately better off if the shop was closed down.
Despite the lack of enforcement, Mayor Eric Adams has pledged to crack down on the illegal pot shops, with plans to utilize the city sheriff’s office to conduct inspections near sensitive areas. The state Office of Cannabis Management is expected to update their rules to enforce the new padlock law during a Cannabis Control Board meeting in May. While Gelato remains confident in their ability to continue operating, other unlicensed cannabis operators are more wary, with some even considering transitioning to legal businesses to avoid potential closures.
The city has been urged to take more aggressive action against the illegal weed shops, with calls for increased enforcement and a more coordinated strategy. City officials have stated that they are prepared to target the over 2,000 illegal smoke shops in the city. However, many industry insiders believe that a crackdown alone will not be sufficient to address the issue, calling for more licensed cannabis stores to be opened in order to reduce the influence of illegal operations. The state and city officials are under pressure to deliver on their promises and take decisive actions to shut down the unlicensed pot shops across New York City.
