The law enforcement crackdown on illicit New York City marijuana shops that state regulators have credited with salvaging the legal market is unconstitutional, a Queens judged has ruled.
According to the Associated Press, Mayor Eric Adams said the city will appeal the ruling, which jeopardizes Operation Padlock to Protect.
ADVERTISEMENT
The crackdown effort launched in May after state lawmakers granted law enforcement new powers, including the ability to literally chain the doors of the estimated 7,000 corner stores, bodegas, and other outlets selling marijuana in New York City.
Operation Padlock has closed as many as 1,200 merchants suspected of selling cannabis without the required state licenses.
Sheriff Office’s power questioned
Affected merchants were allowed to appeal to have their doors reopened via a later
Read full article on Marijuana Business Daily