New York authorities raided and shuttered nine Rochester businesses last month as a new task force attempts another crackdown on unlicensed weed shops statewide.
State officials have been struggling to gain control of illegal dispensaries since New York legalized its adult-use cannabis industry in 2021. Repeated setbacks in the licensing process of cannabis shops led to an explosion of unlicensed dispensaries across the state trying to cash in on sales.
The busts in Rochester follow the opening of the first legal cannabis dispensary inside the city limits, a business that the city’s politicians worked to support.
In April, Gov. Kathy Hochul designated a new task force to inspect and shut down illicit cannabis shops, arguing black-market marijuana businesses threaten public safety and the legal marketplace.
More: NY botched cannabis rollout. How long will it take to fix it? Here’s Hochul’s plan
Nine shops in Rochester were targeted and closed last month for allegedly selling cannabis without a proper license, including:
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Acadia Canna & Kratom at 1971 E. Ridge Road in Irondequoit
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Jadr and Co LLC at 722 N. Winton Road in Rochester
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Higher Level Smoke Shop (Genesis-360 LLC) at 490 Monroe Ave. in Rochester
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DJs Somewhere at 1280 Scottsville Road in Rochester
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Jadr and Co LLC at 804 Meigs St. in Rochester
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Nick’s Superstore at 460 Monroe Ave. in Rochester
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Smoke Depot Greece at 630 W. Ridge Road in Greece
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Puff Puff Pass at 337 Driving Park Ave. in Rochester
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Elite Cigar & Smoke II at 2973 West Henrietta Road in Henrietta
More: Irondequoit CBD shop shut down, ‘illicit cannabis’ seized by state
Raids by the new task force over the last month led to 323 inspections and the closure of 164 unlicensed dispensaries, the Office of Cannabis Management announced at a board meeting this week. Inspectors have seized nearly 5,000 pounds of illicit cannabis valued at $30 million.
State officials said licensed dispensaries in downstate New York have seen a 50% increase in revenue since the inception of the task force.
There are 144 licensed dispensaries across the state. You can find the one closest to you on the state’s website.
— Kayla Canne reports on community justice and safety efforts for the Democrat and Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter @kaylacanne and @bykaylacanne on Instagram. Get in touch at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Nine Rochester shops shut down over illegal cannabis sales
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