The push to shut down illegal New York City pot shops continues -- and cops think they hit them at the source with a recent takedown in Brooklyn.
© Mark Hoffman + © Lacey Latch/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
(Brooklyn, NY) – New York City authorities say they took a big step toward shutting down the Big Apple’s illegal pot shops on Tuesday. That’s because a major illegal marijuana operation was apparently busted up in Brooklyn. Cops and prosecutors allege millions of dollars of cannabis-related products were seized from a warehouse of the weekend.
NYPD detectives say they believe the warehouse was providing a large number of the city’s illegal pot shops — which have proliferated in number ever since weed was legalized for adult, recreational use. Both the NYPD and the sheriff’s office have been ramping up efforts to close up illegal shops. This includes the ability to padlock entrances without scheduling follow up with state-level officials. The New York state budget gave local municipalities more leeway in shutting down unlicensed pot shops.
Since that effort began in earnest more than 200 unlicensed locations have been shuttered.