New York Lawmakers Send Letter to NYC Mayor Urging Him to ‘Move Swiftly’ Against Unregulated Cannabis Sales

New York lawmakers on September 9 sent a letter to New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) urging him to clamp down on illegal cannabis sales. The letter describes the businesses as “unscrupulous entities” that “have taken advantage of New Yorkers’ and visitors’ confusion about the law to open dozens of illicit marijuana shops and trucks throughout the city.”

The letter claims that state Sen. Brad Hoylman’s staff had identified more than two dozen storefronts or mobile stores in his district “that were purporting to sell cannabis to the public as if they had a valid license to do so.”  

“While adult use and possession of cannabis is now legal, it remains illegal to sell cannabis without a license, and no person or entity has been awarded a recreational license to sell in New York State. … These stores are deceptive to consumers, hazardous to public health, cheating on their taxes, undermining the State’s equity-based and legal cannabis rollout, and have little incentive to inspect IDs to ensure they are not selling to minors.” — Sen. Hoylman, Sen. Dick Gottfried, NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher in the letter 

In mid-August, the New York City Police Department seized 19 vehicles that were owned by individuals accused of selling cannabis in Times Square and officers issued six criminal court summonses.   

In June, Adams urged no “heavy-handedness” in the enforcement of gifting or unlicensed cannabis sales in the city while the state moves toward regulated sales.  

The letter asks Adams “to move swiftly in stopping these brazen businesses from selling unregulated products.”