Gov. Hochul initiative targets illegal smoke shops across NYC, paving the way for more closures and hefty fines
Apr. 22, 2024 By Anthony Medina
The surge of smoke shops across New York City is likely to be coming to an end.
A new initiative announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul last week would allow New York City and local municipalities across the State to shutter and padlock the raft of illegal cannabis stores that have been mushrooming across the region.
The governor’s initiative expands the authority given to the New York State Office of Cannabis Management and law enforcement, including the NYPD, to padlock illicit smoke shops and levy hefty fines on landlords who fail to acknowledge illegal activity on their properties.