The governor of New York says the state’s escalated enforcement actions against illicit marijuana shops is resulting in a significant increase in legal sales at licensed retailers.

As Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) faces criticism from equity-focused activists who staged a protest on Tuesday over what they see as a “corporate takeover” of the cannabis market, she continues to promote the industry while defending the state’s efforts to eradicate the unregulated market.

The governor also argued at a press briefing on Tuesday that there’s a direct correlation between the stepped-up enforcement and “dramatically” increased legal sales.

“The progress is clear: First week of May to the first week in June, legal sales are up 27 percent,” Hochul said. “Let me break that down for you. For 24 stores in the enforcement areas, that means over a million dollars in additional revenue, or $35,000 per store in just one month. That makes the difference between staying open and closing.”

“That means you continue paying good wages to your workers. It means that your supply coming up from the farmers can have a resource—a place to sell it,” she said. “It means you’re going to be prosperous. You’re going to be able to

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