Mayor Adams Destroys Four Tons of Seized Cannabis Product as "Operation Padlock to Protect" Shuts Down More Than 1,000 Unlicensed Shops

August 28, 2024

Video available at: https://youtu.be/MCiPSNZIGj4

Adams Administration Has Sealed Over 1,000 Illegal Locations, Seized an Estimated $63 Million in Illegal Products, Inspected 100 Percent of Shops Identified as Selling Illegal Cannabis  

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda, New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Edward A. Caban, and New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga today destroyed more than four tons, or 576 bags, of seized, illegal cannabis products as inspectors of the New York City Sherriff's Joint Compliance Task Force have shut down and sealed more than 1,000 illegal cannabis and smoke shops since the start of the city's successful "Operation Padlock to Protect" nearly four months ago. Mayor Adams also today announced that, as of yesterday, the task force has conducted inspections of 100 percent of known shops identified as selling cannabis illegally and that was part of Operation Padlock to Protect's initial list of illegal shops.

As a result of the operation's rapid success, the city has seized more than $63 million in illegal product, which has been taking up an outsized amount of space across NYPD's network of evidence warehouses. Mayor Adams joined members of the joint task force today — made up of the Sheriff's Office, the NYPD, and DCWP — to participate in NYPD's standard evidence destruction process of incinerating illegal substances and products in an environmentally-responsible way. By-product from the incineration of seized evidence is then used as an energy source for the surrounding community.

"Illegal cannabis shops and their products endanger our young people and our quality of life, and that's why we are padlocking dangerous storefronts and protecting our children, families, and communities from these illegal operators," said Mayor Adams. "Thanks to the diligent work of the Sherriff's Joint Compliance Task Force, we have now padlocked over 1,000 illegal shops and seized over $63 million in illegal products. Illegal cannabis nothing like legal cannabis, which is why these illegal products are being incinerated, so they can never return to New York City streets and endanger our youth again. Our successful efforts continue to keep our communities safe and create an environment where legal operators, who uphold public safety and realize the goals of social justice in the cannabis industry, are able to thrive. We are going to ensure that the future of legal cannabis burns bright in New York City."

"We are grateful for Mayor Adams' leadership and support with the organization of the Sheriff's Joint Compliance Task Force and the implementation of 'Operation Padlock to Protect,'" said Sheriff Miranda. "The Sheriff's Office, along with our partners in the NYPD and DCWP, has been extremely successful in padlocking the illegal smoke shops that have plagued our city and targeted our youth. We still have some work to do, so we will continue to conduct our inspections to protect the health and safety of our city."

"Cannabis operators running afoul of the law pose a public safety and health risk to our communities and are destabilizing the emerging legal industry," said NYPD Commissioner Caban. "The safe sale and distribution of legal cannabis in New York City can only be ensured by a properly licensed, regulated, and standardized industry. Therefore, the NYPD and our partners on the Sheriff's Joint Task Force will continue to use every resource available to enforce these cannabis regulations and, most importantly, to protect New Yorkers."

"We're committed to supporting New Yorkers, and that begins with protecting their health and wellbeing," said DCWP Commissioner Mayuga. "Illegal cannabis products pose a threat to our neighbors, especially our youngest New Yorkers, and I'm proud to join Mayor Adams and our fellow agencies in smoking out unlicensed businesses from our communities."

Following Mayor Adams' successful advocacy in Albany for municipalities to be given the regulatory authority by the state to finally shut down illegal cannabis and smoke shops plaguing city streets, New York City moved quickly to execute its legal authority, and accelerated its steady enforcement. With the newly granted local authority, the Adams administration has executed a five-borough strategy to finally end this public health and safety issue.

"Operation Padlock to Protect" systematically conducts joint operations — which include inspections and follow-up inspections — in neighborhoods across the five boroughs. When illegal stores are ordered to be sealed, officers from local NYPD precincts monitor those locations to ensure compliance and alert the Sheriff's Office when violations of the seal order occur.

Record-high closures build on praise by New Yorkers, who join the administration in prioritizing decisive action against this public safety and quality of life nuisance. Operation Padlock to Protect is another example of the Adams administration's efforts to double down on its commitment to swiftly shut down illegal operators, protect the city's children, improve quality of life, and facilitate a safe and thriving legal cannabis market. 

The legalization of cannabis is intended to create a new economy to emerge in New York state, while addressing the harmful impact of the "War on Drugs" on Black and Brown New Yorkers. For New York City's new cannabis economy and justice-involved businesses to thrive, the city and state must protect the development of the legal market. To do so, the Adams administration launched Cannabis NYC, under the New York City Department of Small Business Services, to provide free resources and services for all New Yorkers interested in the cannabis industry. Cannabis NYC has already engaged over 5,000 New Yorkers on its five borough "Lift Off! Cannabis NYC" public education, listening, and outreach tour and over 200 New Yorkers have participated in the FastTrac for Cannabis Entrepreneurs sessions, which connects legal cannabis business owners and entrepreneurs with free, high-quality training and advice delivered by leading voices in the legal cannabis industry. 

"Illicit cannabis storefronts have plagued our communities and taken business away from hard-working legal retailers," said New York State Governor Kathy Hochul. "That's why I worked so hard to pass new laws that grant enforcement powers to expedite the closure of these shops. Since then, this partnership between the state and city has shut down more than 1,300 unlicensed stores statewide. This has allowed sales for legal dispensary owners to skyrocket and taken New York's cannabis market into its next phase."

"I was proud to mobilize New Yorkers across all 5 boroughs to pass the SMOKEOUT Act in the State budget, authorizing the City to shut down illegal smoke shops for good," said New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar. "Mayor Adams, Sheriff Miranda, and Commissioner Caban immediately sprung into action with the spectacularly successful 'Operation Padlock to Protect.' We have already closed over 1,000 unlicensed cannabis shops and inspected all known shops in a matter of weeks. That is 1,000 fewer shops attracting armed robberies and selling to children; more than four tons of unregulated cannabis off our streets; and tens of millions of dollars in more tax revenue to invest in communities. This demonstrates what we can achieve when all levels of government come together to address the issues facing New Yorkers."

"Today's actions represent a significant win for New Yorkers, whether on Long Island or in New York City," said State Assemblymember Michaelle C. Solages. "By cracking down on illegal cannabis sales, we are not only protecting our communities from harmful products but also supporting the integrity of our legal market. I commend Mayor Adams and his administration for their unwavering commitment to safeguarding the well-being of all New Yorkers. Together, we are ensuring that our neighborhoods remain safe and that the legal cannabis industry can thrive under fair and responsible regulations."

"Illegal cannabis shops are a blight on our communities and are antithetical to the work of building a legal, regulated cannabis economy that centers social justice and fairness. Continuing to weed out these shops and their potentially harmful products could not be more critical to that effort," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. "There must be no place for illegal cannabis operators in the World's Borough or anywhere else in our city."

"The sale of illegal, unregulated cannabis not only threatens public safety, but it also undermines legitimate businesses before they even have a chance to open. My office has been steadfast in our efforts to stop these sales by initiating eviction proceedings against illegal vendors and by shutting down mobile dispensaries that are often parked near schools, with product clearly marketed toward our children," said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. "I thank Mayor Adams, the NYPD, and the New York City Sheriff for their leadership in seizing untested, unregulated cannabis and shutting down illegal vendors to protect public health and safety."

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