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NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Monday that a three-month crackdown on illegal cannabis led to the padlocking of 345 unlicensed cannabis shops and the seizure of nearly $29 million in illegal cannabis across New York.
The Illicit Cannabis Enforcement Task Force launched in May and since then has conducted over 700 inspections resulting in the seizure of 7,485 pounds of illegal cannabis.
“Thousands of illegal cannabis storefronts across the State have plagued our communities and siphoned business from licensed retailers,” Hochul said. “I launched the Illicit Cannabis Enforcement Task Force to quickly close these unlicensed shops, and today, more than 1,000 have been shuttered. I look forward to building upon that success to continue our enforcement efforts across New York.”
Over 100 locations voluntarily shut down or ceased illegal cannabis operations, according to Hochul. Overall, the task force has successfully closed more than 1,000 unlicensed stores across the state since the start of the task force.
As a result of the shut downs, the New York’s legal cannabis market sales increased by 51 percent, contributing to over $368 million in year-to-date sales—more than double the total sales of 2023, according to a press release.
The Office of Cannabis Management is now focused on expanding its enforcement team to continue the state’s aggressive approach to shutting down illegal shops.
“}]] Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Monday that a three-month crackdown on illegal cannabis led to the padlocking of 345 unlicensed cannabis shops and the seizure of nearly $29 million in illicit products across New York. Read More