CITYWIDE — MORE THAN 779 ILLEGAL CANNABIS stores have been padlocked, and the New York State Illicit Cannabis Enforcement Task Force closed an additional 230 across the state, bringing the total to over 1,000, reported Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday, July 31. Since Hochul signed legislation expanding cannabis enforcement powers that were incorporated into the Fiscal Year 2025 budget, city and state task forces have seized more than $63 million worth of illegal substances. They report that the enforcement has positively impacted legal cannabis stores, which have seen a 72% increase in sales on average. One-third of stores reported increases over 100% since the crackdown began. The Office of Cannabis Management has opened 152 legal dispensaries throughout the state, and this year alone, New York issued 730 additional adult-use licenses. OCM has provided a list of licensed dispensaries selling cannabis products grown by NY farmers and tested, packaged and labeled in accordance with New York State’s regulated system.
Many of the recently-licensed dispensaries are in Brooklyn, including in Downtown Brooklyn, Coney Island, Crown Heights, Park Slope and Williamsburg.
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