Syracuse closes six stores for illegal sales of cannabis

Legal authorities in New York have had a lingering problem prevent vape shops and other retailers selling cannabis products without licenses. But a new violation placed on the state books promises to help them have more success.

In the last few weeks, five such retail business in Syracuse were charged with with possessing illegal marijuana or possessing it without the proper licenses by the state’s Office of Cannabis Management and Department of Taxation and Finance. After those charges were levied, Syracuse’s Department of Code Enforcement closed them down for being “unfit for human occupancy,” according to a report on Syracuse.com.

This newly enforced violation allowed authorities to also discontinue the legal businesses of the establishments, which included a convenience store, a wireless store, and three legal smoke shops. In the windows of the businesses were placed signs reading “Illegal Cannabis Seized” in large red block letters.

Since New York legalized adult use cannabis in 2021, the state has been slow in establishing its own retail operation, allowing this gray market to survive, according to Syracuse.com. Prior to the establishment of the “unfit for human occupancy” violation, the city of Syracuse attempted to close about a dozen illegal sellers, but all reopened and continued selling illegal cannabis.

“This situation is pretty unique to New York,” said Barry Wolfe, a senior managing director of Marcus & Millichap who has negotiated property deals for scores of cannabis store sites in Florida. “It’s a real battle in New York City. The city is really trying to crack down on the problem and has started fining landlords.”

New York State officials have declared that their goal is to protect the legal market, but inspections to identify illegal sellers have just begun in the last few months. Legal cannabis retailers, they say, offer safer lab-tested products, giving them a basis to mark unlawful shops as “unfit for human occupancy.”

Syracuse’s director of code enforcement Jake Dishaw told Syracuse.com that his code inspectors lack the expertise to test for illegal cannabis products. Nor do they have the power to enforce state law.

“Now the state can come in and find them in violation, and we can come back and since they are operating contrary to law, we can declare them unfit,” Dishaw said.