NEW YORK — Over the last three months, New York City has closed nearly 800 unauthorized cannabis shops, as announced by officials on Wednesday.
According to Mayor Eric Adams, the initiative known as Operation Padlock to Protect has resulted in the shutdown of 779 establishments throughout the city’s five boroughs. The operation has also imposed fines totaling $65,671,487 and confiscated products valued at $41,443,792.
In a statement, Adams expressed, “For far too long, these illegal outlets have fostered a lawless atmosphere and targeted vulnerable individuals, including children, with unsafe counterfeit products disguised as candy. Today, we mark a significant achievement in curbing this issue and paving the way for a thriving legal cannabis market.”
Governor Kathy Hochul added that over 1,000 illegal shops have been closed across the state, with six of these closures occurring earlier this month in New Rochelle.
“These criminals were very crafty. We were constantly chasing them down, thinking they had the upper hand. But ultimately, they have been defeated,” Hochul remarked.
A report from May revealed that there were over 2,900 illegal cannabis stores within New York City alone.
What is Operation Padlock to Protect?
New York City initiated Operation Padlock to Protect in early May as a comprehensive enforcement action.
The budget agreement authorized state legislators to grant more power to localities to combat illegal cannabis operations.
Later that month, law enforcement confiscated millions worth of illegal products from a warehouse in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Additionally, earlier this month, authorities uncovered a manufacturing site that was creating counterfeit labels in Sheepshead Bay.
Officials indicated that community complaints played a crucial role in identifying the Sheepshead Bay location. Residents can report illegal cannabis shops by calling 311 or emailing the Sheriff’s Office. Find out more here.
The governor noted that legal cannabis sales have increased due to the enforcement actions, with the state issuing 214 new cannabis licenses since May 1. She anticipates this number will continue to rise significantly.
“Thanks to the removal of illegal competitors, we now have 152 legal dispensaries across the state, and this number is growing each week,” Hochul added.
