NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams took action to promote a more
equitable cannabis market by announcing the results of a two-week interagency pilot
conducting enforcement against unlicensed establishments selling cannabis, cannabis-
infused edibles, illegal vaping products, illegal cigarettes, and other illegal tobacco
products. The pilot program — conducted jointly by the New York City Sheriff’s Office,
the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the New York City Department of
Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), and the New York State Office of Cannabis
Management (OCM) — resulted in the seizure of more than $4 million worth of products
being sold illegally and the issuance of 566 civil and criminal summonses.
“We will not let the economic opportunities that legal cannabis offers be taken for a ride
by unlicensed establishments,” said Mayor Adams. “We are announcing the seizure of
$4 million in products that were being sold illegally to New Yorkers. Thanks to this joint
interagency task force pilot, the city and the state collaborated to crack down on bad
actors who are putting New Yorkers’ — particularly young people’s — health and safety
at risk, and who sought to cut the line and undermine the legal market. It’s high time that
unlicensed stores stopped selling illegal products and comply with the law.”
The Cannabis NYC Interagency Enforcement Task Force was a two-week pilot program
to align efforts between the city and state on enforcement against establishments selling
illegal cannabis, vaping, and tobacco products. The pilot was conducted the week of
November 14th to November 19th, and the week of November 28th to December 3rd.
“The New York City sheriff’s task force was successful in seizing hundreds of illegal
products that were being sold by unlicensed businesses, many of which had the
potential to endanger the health and safety of the public,” said New York City Sheriff
Anthony Miranda. “We have an obligation to support the legal cannabis industry and
create a fair opportunity for legal dispensaries to succeed, and that means taking
enforcement action against those who continue to operate illegally by selling contraband
and evading taxes. The collective efforts of the task force, under the direction of Mayor
Adams, sends a clear message to illegal businesses that their actions will not be
tolerated, and it will be necessary for them to comply with licensing laws.”
The results of the task force included:
Inspections of 53 locations throughout the five boroughs.
Seizure of more than 100,000 illegal products, totaling an estimated retail value of
$4,143,647.
Issuance of 500 civil violations and 66 criminal summonses.
Two felony arrests and one arrest on an outstanding warrant.
“We have gotten numerous complaints from parents, children and school administrators about
unlicensed cannabis sales to kids,” said New York City Councilmember Joseph Borelli. “This
is the problem we must tackle if we are serious about playing host to a responsible licensed
industry. The bad actors need to go.”
