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by: Greg Mocker

Posted: Apr 18, 2024 / 01:30 PM EDT

Updated: Apr 18, 2024 / 01:30 PM EDT

HARLEM, N.Y. (PIX11) — Neighbors are working to smoke out illegal cannabis shops in New York City. 

With discussions happening in Albany, neighbors are sending a message to lawmakers about the illegal shops. 

Several pieces of legislation are being discussed as part of the state budget to give the city more authority to crack down and close illegal locations.  

A group of neighbors and community members met outside a shop on 125th Street in Harlem on Thursday morning. It’s located directly across the street from a legal shop. 

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has called the rollout a disaster. The number of illegal shops outnumbers the adult-use cannabis retailers currently and officially licensed by the state. It could be as high as 35,000 illegal shops. 

There are 110 legal shops in the state. New York State Cannabis Control Board has issued an additional 403 licenses in 2024. 

The Office of General Services is conducting a review of the Office of Cannabis Management. 

Proposed legislation would address penalties and involve local police in enforcement. It is being discussed for inclusion in the state budget. 

The group says new legislation should protect children and hold property owners accountable for businesses. 

Assemblywoman Jennifer Rajkumar (D-Queens) says she will participate in raids with the sheriff and anticipates the passage of her legislation. 

“The SMOKEOUT Act calls for local control and for the power to shut down shops to be put in the hands of the cities and municipalities. I am proud to say that New York City and all localities will now have the power to shut down illegal cannabis shops on their own, without waiting for the State Office of Cannabis Management. In New York City, the Office of the Sheriff will now be able to deputize the NYPD and all agencies to help padlock the shops,” she wrote in a statement. 

Details of the new plan are set to allow localities to padlock a shop immediately provided that the shop is an “egregious actor.” That includes selling cannabis to children, operating next to a school, selling unregulated cannabis, or the presence of illegal firearms.

Assemblywoman Rajkumar says illegal shops that do not fall into one of the above categories can be closed upon a second inspection. 

“Any previous inspection conducted before the passage of this law counts for the purposes of padlocking. Violating a padlock order is now a Class A misdemeanor,” she added. 

New laws would allow a process for business owners to remedy the problem and have a hearing on the record within a few days. 

Municipalities outside New York City will also have the power to create cannabis enforcement by passing new local laws.

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