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OP-ED MARCH 03, 2023 | The Indian Eye 14

Cannabis Justice for All in New York City

Legal cannabis is expected to be a $1.3 billion industry that will create thousands of jobs and generate
approximately $40 million per year in tax revenue for our city

ERIC ADAMS

egalizing cannabis was a major
step forward for equity and
Ljustice in our city. But legaliza-
tion is about following the new laws,
not a free pass to sell unregulated
cannabis products.
Over the last few months, illegal
cannabis retailers have taken ad-
vantage of decriminalization efforts,
with unlicensed smoke shops pop-
ping up all over the city. This “Wild
West” attempt to gain market share In the last month, the first licensed cannabis dispensaries in our city have opened for business
will not be tolerated. New York City
has changed the laws, but we intend a $1.3 billion industry that will create But these legitimate business- And this week, the Manhat-
to enforce them — fairly, equitably, thousands of jobs and generate ap- es are facing stiff competition from tan District Attorney’s Office sent
and thoroughly. proximately $40 million per year in shops that are not following the rules. letters to approximately 400 unli-
For many years, people of color
censed smoke shops in Manhattan.
in our communities were routinely tax revenue for our city. And 40 per- Instead of respect for the law, what The letters state that the city will
cent of the tax revenues from legal
we have seen recently is the prolifer-
targeted when it came to cannabis cannabis will be invested back in the ation of storefronts across New York commence legal eviction proceed-
law enforcement. Cannabis criminal- communities that were most harmed City, selling unlicensed, unregulated ings against commercial tenants
ization was used to harass, arrest, and by prohibition. untaxed cannabis products. who are engaged in illegal business
prosecute our brothers and sisters. We have a moral obligation to Those who flout the cannabis tax activity. That includes the unli-
Advocates rightly pushed for an
laws and regulations are robbing the
end to these practices, and fought make sure that the people who were very communities that are finally on censed sale of cannabis, the sale of
adversely affected by marijuana crim-
untaxed cigarettes, and the sale of
hard to put racial equity at the center inalization get their fair share of this the cusp of benefiting from a just and adulterated products. If owners and
of New York’s cannabis legalization emerging market. That’s part of the equitable system. landlords fail to initiate timely evic-
efforts. Past convictions were auto- mission of the new Cannabis NYC We cannot allow that. We’re tion proceedings against these com-
matically expunged or suppressed. Office. This is a city agency that will not going to take two steps back by mercial tenants, the Sheriff’s Office
People with past convictions for mar- make New Yorkers aware of oppor- letting illegal smoke shops take over will take over and pursue eviction
ijuana and their family members are tunities to participate in this industry, this emerging market, especially proceedings.
being given priority for these licenses.
While we are not ruling out
50 percent of licenses have been set promote equity, and help applicants when so many of them are selling un- criminal prosecutions for tax evasion,
navigate the licensing process.
lawful and unlicensed products that
aside for social and economic equity In the last month, the first li- could seriously harm consumers. money laundering, or the sale of
applicants. censed cannabis dispensaries in our It is time for the operation of il- cannabis to minors, the focus of this
An open and democratic pro-
cess resulted in the progress so many city have opened for business. One legal cannabis dispensaries to end. initiative at this time is civil enforce-
Sheriff Miranda and our part-
is owned by a not-for-profit that sup-
ment. We want to give New York’s
wanted to see — an end to the “war ports people living with H.I.V. and ners at the N.Y.P.D. recently took legal cannabis market a chance to
on drugs” mentality, the establish- A.I.D.S., the other by a formerly incar- direct action to counter this trend. thrive — and deliver on the vision of
ment of a safe and sanctioned canna- cerated entrepreneur who received Over a two-week enforcement blitz, safety, equity and justice that advo-
bis industry for adults, and a pathway priority for a license because he is the Sheriff’s Office issued 566 viola- cates fought for so long.
to restorative justice for those who one of countless Black men who was tions and seized $4.1 million worth of Eric Adams is
were unfairly prosecuted in the past. harmed by the drug war in the 1990s. product at 53 locations. the Mayor of New York City, NY
Legal cannabis is expected to be

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