New York Attorney General Letitia James, Governor Kathy Hochul and the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) closed an unlicensed cannabis shop in Brooklyn, the AG’s office said on Monday.
Big Chief Smoke Shop in Bay Ridge has been operating since November of last year. The shop owner and landlord ignored a notice of violation and several orders to cease unlawful activity at the store, despite raids and seizures of untested cannabis stock in August and October, according to a press release.
In a follow-up inspection in October, OCM investigators observed that the documents the office posted on the front windows of the store were covered over and that the store was still actively selling cannabis. At the October inspection, investigators seized more than 200 pounds of illicit cannabis and issued another Notice of Violation and Order to Cease Unlicensed Activity.
State Senator Andrew Gounardes commended the crackdown on unlawful operations. He said the shop owner not only violated the city's laws but was also a "perpetual bad neighbor.”
New York City Council Member Justin Brannan said although he supported the legalization of marijuana, he did not support the operations of unlicensed shops.
“These illegal pot shops have stolen tax revenue from the state, and they have stolen business from small, legal dispensary owners who follow the law and operate in good faith," Brannan said. "If we care about a strong and safe legal marijuana industry in New York, then we must shut down the bad actors."
The AG's office said the violation imposed a penalty of up to $10,000 for each day of violation and up to $20,000 for continued operations after receiving an order from OCM to cease operating.
James also wants the landlord to pay penalties for permitting unlawful business operations despite being notified of the illegal activity.
