New York City Council holds hearing on illegal, unlicensed cannabis shops
NEW YORK -- The City Council is trying to tackle the growing problem of unlicensed smoke shops popping up everywhere around the city.
CBS2 discussed the matter with parents and even young teens, who had a chance to voice their concerns.
In every borough, on nearly every corner, smoke shops are taking over the city, selling illegal tobacco and weed to people of all ages. Chloe-Marie Mora knows how bad the problem is.
"I'm concerned because I've seen it affect people my own age and I've seen how quickly they can become addicted to it," the 14-year-old said.
READ MORE: Mayor Eric Adams may face uphill battle in crackdown on unlicensed stores selling marijuana
Bipartisan councilmembers from across the city joined forces Wednesday in the fight to shut down unlicensed smoke shops.
"It's not safe, it's not healthy, and no matter how attractive the economic advantage may appear, we got to shut them down," Councilmember Marjorie Velázquez said.
Councilmember Gail Brewer says the Upper West Side has 63 smoke shops, with at least 27 she found to be illegal, which means they're selling products that aren't regulated and could be dangerous.
"We've had such a rise in overdoses because of drugs that are laced with fentanyl. How do we know the drugs that they're selling aren't laced with fentanyl? There's no control," Councilmember Joann Ariola said.
READ MORE: Upper West Side inundated with unlicensed spots to buy marijuana; "What do you do about all this?"
Retailers who want to sell marijuana must get a license from the state's Office of Cannabis Management. Currently, the only store legally selling cannabis in the city is Housing Works in the East Village.
CBS2 asked the councilmembers what should happen to landlords renting spaces to these bad actors, who could face liability under federal and state law.
"At the end of the day, did the landlord know what the activities were? Right? It's always about intent," Velázquez said.
Parents are outraged that many of these unlicensed smoke shops are opening near schools and daycares.
"Many of these stores are so brazen now because there is no enforcement," said Dorian Fuhrman of the group Parents Against Vaping. "Now, they're starting to sell other products, like cannabis, like jars of weed in convenience stores half a block from schools on the Upper East Side and it's just unacceptable."
"I think most of them should be closed because it's affecting people's lives," 11-year-old Alana Fuhrman added. "Like people could get into depression. People could have a lot of anxiety."
The City Council said Wednesday it vows to work with law enforcement and state lawmakers to create stronger levels of accountability, stricter enforcement and more efficient paths to shutting the shops down.
