More than 1,000 illegal cannabis sellers closed by NYS

More than 1,000 illegal sellers of cannabis in New York state have been closed by local and state agencies according to an update from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office. At the same time, Hochul’s office reported that since May, legal sales have increased by 51%, contributing to more than $368 Million in legal sales so far in 2024, more than doubling 2023’s total sales.

“Thousands of illegal cannabis storefronts across the state have plagued our communities and siphoned business from licensed retailers,” Hochul said. “I launched the Illicit Cannabis Enforcement Task Force (ICET) to quickly close these unlicensed shops, and today, more than 1,000 have been shuttered. I look forward to building upon that success to continue our enforcement efforts across New York.”

Since its launch, the ICET reports conducting more than 700 inspections, resulting in 7,485 pounds of illegal cannabis seized with an estimated value of $28.9 million. There were 789 inspections leading to 345 padlocks and 596 Notices of Violation issued. In addition, 136 locations closed on their own or ceased illegal cannabis operations in response to enforcement action. There were 79 administrative hearings, resulting in 57 administrative decisions to date, 52 of which upheld the emergency padlocking of a cannabis seller.

As of August 23, New York’s sales year-to-date in 2024 had reached $368.4 million, more than doubling the $160 million total sales in 2023. Enforcement efforts have pushed the state’s total retail sales to more than $520 million with sales since May 2024 making up over 43% of that total. In the aftermath of the crackdown on illegal sales to ate, licensed retailers report an average increase of 50% in sales statewide and 97% in New York City.

There are currently 166 licensed adult-use retail dispensaries open for business across New York state.