New Yorkers are not waiting for OCM to award licenses and began selling cannabis in dispensary style retail stores.
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Many have heard of weed trucks like Uncle Budd and Weed World, but residents of NY are opening unlicensed shops openly selling marijuana in NYC.
In a statement, the state’s Office of Cannabis Management said these businesses are breaking the law and that the office is working with police to investigate.
“Simply put: you need a license to sell cannabis in New York. If you do not have one, you are not selling cannabis legally,” the office said in the statement.
“The Office of Cannabis Management implores all illegal store operators, including stores pretending to be legal operations, to stop selling cannabis products immediately or risk facing additional consequences.”
Store owners like Big Chief are saying they are not being bothered.
NYPD says people cannot be arrested for the sale of marijuana unless they receive compensation in exchange for the product.
A user on Twitter tweeted
“Alarming segment on the current lack of enforcement of adult-use #cannabis dispensary sales in NYC. Many former street dealers/opportunists are simply opening up shop without a license and staying open without penalty. Not ideal for $MSOS spending millions going the legal route.”
Applications were made available in August and were due Sept 26th at Midnight. The Office of Cannabis Management received 903 CAURD Applications.
The applications are being currently being reviewed and OCM has been contacting applicants asking for more information giving them a deadline of Nov 3rd.
The email they are sending out states that they will be awarding licenses at the next cannabis control board meeting next month.
