According to a report by PIX11 on September 6th, the New York City Council has introduced two bills aimed at shutting down unlicensed marijuana shops, including those illegally selling nicotine e-cigarette products containing chemicals or marijuana.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams established a marijuana task force as early as 2022 to crack down on the illicit cannabis market. However, ever since the opening of over one thousand tobacco stores in the city, the sales of illegal marijuana have soared, leading to the surge in popularity of e-cigarettes.
The city council is making efforts to address the ongoing issue of unauthorized pods appearing throughout the city. A public hearing was held by the council, marking the first step towards resolving the problem.
The committee has proposed two bills to crackdown on unlicensed marijuana shops, some of which illegally sell nicotine e-cigarette products containing chemicals or marijuana.
The bill calls for the implementation of public awareness campaigns to warn about the dangers of purchasing marijuana products from unlicensed retailers. Another bill aims to include additional provisions for reporting complaints against unlicensed cannabis retailers.
Despite the city banning flavored e-cigarettes four years ago, some of the currently sold products contain synthetic substances. "Synthetic marijuana is not marijuana. It is a dangerous chemical mixture with unpredictable health effects," warned the government affairs assistant commissioner of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. He stated that existing laws do not lead to immediate closure of illegally selling shops, and the fines imposed are relatively light.
Tom Harris, Chairman of the Times Square Alliance, has expressed concern over the alarming rise in the number of illegal tobacco shops in the city. "It is imperative that property owners take responsibility for abiding by stricter laws. Additionally, we must enhance law enforcement measures," he emphasized during a council hearing.
Health officials in the city stated that, as of now, they have not found any adverse health issues related to products sold by unlicensed stores.
According to reports, the city council's bill is currently in the final stage of wording and will subsequently be put to a vote by the entire body.
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