New York’s governor is introducing legislation to increase enforcement authority to crack down on illicit marijuana retailers as the state struggles to stand up the regulated adult-use market.
The action comes on the same day that Assembly Republicans sent a letter to the administration, requesting an audit of the state’s recreational cannabis program amid controversy over the protracted implementation process.
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced on Wednesday that her new program bill would amend the state’s cannabis law by giving regulators at the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) and law enforcement enhanced authority to stamp out the hundreds of illegal businesses operating in New York.
Illicit retailers could face fines exceeding $10,000 per day for violating the law by selling cannabis products without a license. As it stands, those illegal operators far outnumber businesses in the regulated industry.
“Over the past several weeks I have been working with the legislature on new legislation to improve New York’s regulatory structure for cannabis products,” Hochul said in a press release. “The continued existence of illegal dispensaries is unacceptable, and we need additional enforcement tools to protect New Yorkers from dangerous products and support our equity initiatives.”
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