On Monday, New York City officials shut down an unlicensed cannabis bakery on the Upper East Side following a multiagency raid led by the New York City Sheriff’s Office. Sweetooth, the bakery in question, was found selling THC-infused edibles and other unlicensed cannabis products. The raid resulted in the confiscation of hundreds of illegal edibles, and the bakery’s owner was arrested on charges related to illegal drug possession.
Operating only a few blocks from Gracie Mansion, Sweetooth was already on the radar of local Councilmember Julie Menin. Menin had pledged to address businesses like this unlicensed cannabis bakery through collaboration with the Sheriff’s Joint Compliance Task Force. “Businesses should never market cannabis products to children, and I will continue to work with relevant agencies to ensure compliance with all laws,” Menin stated in her commitment to curb illegal operations in residential areas.
In addition to Menin’s efforts, a spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams affirmed the city’s stance: “Mayor Adams has been clear: We will not let the economic opportunities that legal cannabis offers be taken for a ride by unlicensed establishments.”
Sweetooth, which began operating in February at First Avenue and East 87th Street, sold THC-laced cupcakes, donuts, and cakes. Complaints from the community prompted action by the city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, which issued the bakery eight violations prior to the raid.
During the raid, the Sheriff’s Joint Compliance Task Force uncovered further violations, prompting Sweetooth’s immediate closure. Authorities seized over 280 THC vapes, 490 pre-rolled cannabis products, and 825 packages of THC-infused edibles. The bakery’s owner received a $13,000 fine and now faces criminal charges for possession and sale of unlicensed cannabis products.
The city’s crackdown on unlicensed cannabis businesses is gaining public support. A recent poll conducted by Siena College found that 58% of New Yorkers believe that businesses selling cannabis without a license should be fined or closed. With only six licensed dispensaries currently operating in New York City, a rise in unlicensed shops like Sweetooth has presented challenges for the legal market and public safety.
Whether this action is part of a larger enforcement plan or another isolated case remains to be seen, but officials continue to monitor and address the growing number of unlicensed cannabis operations across the city.
OTHER NEWS: NYC Closes 750+ Illegal Cannabis Shops in Three Months
