New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda, New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Edward A. Caban, and New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga today destroyed more than four tons, or 576 bags, of seized, illegal cannabis products as inspectors of the New York City Sherriff's Joint Compliance Task Force have shut down and sealed more than 1,000 illegal cannabis and smoke shops since the start of the city's successful "Operation Padlock to Protect" nearly four months ago. Mayor Adams also today announced that, as of yesterday, the task force has conducted inspections of 100 percent of known shops identified as selling cannabis illegally and that was part of Operation Padlock to Protect's initial list of illegal shops.
As a result of the operation's rapid success, the city has seized more than $63 million in illegal product, which has been taking up an outsized amount of space across NYPD's network of evidence warehouses. Mayor Adams joined members of the joint task force today — made up of the Sheriff's Office, the NYPD, and DCWP — to participate in NYPD's standard evidence destruction process of incinerating illegal substances and products in an environmentally-responsible way. By-product from the incineration of seized evidence is then used as an energy source for the surrounding community.
Following Mayor Adams' advocacy in Albany for municipalities to be given the regulatory authority by the state to finally shut down illegal cannabis and smoke shops plaguing city streets, New York City moved quickly to execute its legal authority, and accelerated its steady enforcement. With the newly granted local authority, the Adams administration has executed a five-borough strategy to finally end this public health and safety issue.
Record-high closures build on praise by New Yorkers, who join the administration in prioritizing decisive action against this public safety and quality of life nuisance. Operation Padlock to Protect is another example of the Adams administration's efforts to double down on its commitment to swiftly shut down illegal operators, protect the city's children, improve quality of life, and facilitate a safe and thriving legal cannabis market.
The legalization of cannabis is intended to create a new economy to emerge in New York state, while addressing the harmful impact of the "War on Drugs" on Black and Brown New Yorkers. For New York City's new cannabis economy and justice-involved businesses to thrive, the city and state must protect the development of the legal market. To do so, the Adams administration launched Cannabis NYC, under the New York City Department of Small Business Services, to provide free resources and services for all New Yorkers interested in the cannabis industry. Cannabis NYC has already engaged over 5,000 New Yorkers on its five borough "Lift Off! Cannabis NYC" public education, listening, and outreach tour and over 200 New Yorkers have participated in the FastTrac for Cannabis Entrepreneurs sessions, which connects legal cannabis business owners and entrepreneurs with free, high-quality training and advice delivered by leading voices in the legal cannabis industry.
