Page 12 - The Indian EYE 052424

COMMUNITY OP-ED MAY 24, 2024 | The Indian Eye 12

“Operation Padlock to Protect”

How New York City is Taking Action to Shut

Down Illegal Smoke and Cannabis Shops

Illegal smoke and cannabis shops stand in the way of the legal cannabis market, taking money out of the

registers of small business owners trying to earn a living, many of whom are formerly justice-involved

ERIC ADAMS

hen we came to office two
years ago, we had a clear
Wvision: protect public safe-
ty, rebuild our economy, and make
this city more livable for hardworking
New Yorkers. But the increase of un-
licensed smoke and cannabis shops
across the five boroughs is one of the
biggest quality-of-life issues facing our
city. That’s why now that we have been
granted the authority, we’re taking The legal cannabis industry offers a once-in-a-generation chance for those disproportionately impacted by the so-called ‘War on Drugs’ to build
action against unlicensed smoke and wealth, especially in our Black and Brown communities (File/Agency photo)
cannabis shops, while still supporting
those that have played by the rules. of New York. Thanks to Governor can now see their doors sealed and rates of drug-related incarceration
Illegal businesses prey on and Kathy Hochul and our partners in padlocked that very same day. and were denied economic oppor-
target our most vulnerable, including the state Legislature, New York City Prior to securing these powers tunities. But thanks to the equitable,
children, selling dangerous, counter- can now use the full force of the law from the state, we could only use the legal cannabis industry, they have the
feit products, and creating eyesores to padlock and protect our streets. limited tools available to us to protect chance to get in on the industry from
across our city. Illegal smoke and can- With these new enforcement powers children and crack down on these il- the ground up and our administration
nabis shops stand in the way of the and legal authority granted by the legal stores. Our interagency Sheriff’s wants to ensure that this emerging
legal cannabis market, taking money state, we are making it clear that any Joint Compliance Task Force was economy has a chance to burn bright
out of the registers of small business operator acting illegally will face swift able to conduct limited enforcement in our city.
owners trying to earn a living, many of consequences as we protect our city’s against unlicensed establishments, Those who flout the cannabis
whom are formerly justice-involved. children, improve quality of life, and but we were still able to conduct over laws and regulations are robbing the
To help the emerging legal cannabis facilitate a safe and thriving legal can- 46,000 inspections, collect over $18 very communities that are finally on
economy and protect our streets, we nabis market. million dollars in fines, issue 17,000 the cusp of benefiting from a just and
must permanently shut down these Operation Padlock to Protect is summonses, and close down 160 illegal equitable system. These new enforce-
illegal storefronts and their unlawful bringing together the New York City businesses. Real numbers showing the ment powers make it clear: if you
business practices. Sheriff’s Office, the New York City real impact of our interagency efforts. operate an illegal smoke shop, you
That’s exactly what “Operation Police Department, and the Depart- The legal cannabis industry of- will be shut down. We are going to
Padlock to Protect” will do. The ment of Consumer and Worker Pro- fers a once-in-a-generation chance continue to protect our city’s children,
multi-agency operation is the start of tection in partnership as the agencies for those disproportionately impact- improve quality of life, and facilitate a
a five-borough strategic plan — that padlock these illegal and unlicensed ed by the so-called ‘War on Drugs’ to safe and thriving legal cannabis mar-
will accelerate in the coming weeks — shops. Businesses that operate near build wealth, especially in our Black ket in New York City.
to shut down even more unlicensed a church or school, sell to minors, or and Brown communities. For too Eric Adams is the Mayor of
smoke and cannabis shops in the City have gotten customers sick in the past long, these communities faced high New York City, NY

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