ALBANY — The state is continuing its efforts to shut down thousands of illicit cannabis shops and over the past several weeks regulators seized roughly $1 million worth of marijuana from 31 business across New York, including in Albany, Ithaca and Binghamton.
“I literally got phone calls and letters from elected officials in some of the upstate communities grateful that this is finally happening,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursday at a news conference in Brooklyn. “I want to be aggressive. I want to get this done. I want to send a message loud and clear across the state: If you’re operating illegally, you will be caught and you will be stopped.”
The governor said that landlords who allow illicit cannabis sales from their properties are also going to be targeted along with the business owners, who could face fines of up to $10,000 per day. She said customers and employees of the businesses will not face penalties.
The enforcement efforts include issuing violation notices and cease-and-desist orders to dozens of shops that were allegedly selling unlicensed cannabis. The state also allocated $5 million to hire 37 staff members who will help the Office of Cannabis Management shut down and penalize business owners selling cannabis without a license.
Chris Alexander, executive director of the Office of Cannabis Management, noted the line the state is walking in enforcing illegal marijuana sales to support an industry that has been designed to benefit, at least initially, individuals with past marijuana convictions.
“I know that for many of you who’ve followed me or have worked with me in the past in the advocacy world, this announcement of a law enforcement action is kind of weird,” Alexander said. “But I want to really emphasize the fact that this is a different moment. This is a different day. And this is a different approach.”
Alexander said the initial enforcement effort…
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