New York City Shutters Hundreds of Illegal Marijuana Shops

New regulations have provided the city sheriff’s office with authority to inspect and close unlicensed stores.
New York City Shutters Hundreds of Illegal Marijuana Shops
A legal cannabis dispensary in the East Village, New York City, on June 16, 2023. Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Jana J. Pruet
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Thousands of unlicensed marijuana shops opened in New York City after the state legalized recreational use of the drug in 2021. New state regulations are allowing officials to crack down.

The city sheriff’s office said it has closed about 700 illegal stores since the new rules were enacted in April. The unsanctioned shops proliferated across the Big Apple when the city’s legal power had been limited and the legal market was mired in red tape.

Jana J. Pruet
Jana J. Pruet
Author
Jana J. Pruet is an award-winning investigative journalist. She covers news in Texas with a focus on politics, energy, and crime. She has reported for many media outlets over the years, including Reuters, The Dallas Morning News, and TheBlaze, among others. She has a journalism degree from Southern Methodist University. Send your story ideas to: [email protected]