QUESTION
What legal changes are necessary for NYC to close illegal marijuana shops?
5:37:56
·
72 sec
The city seeks state-level legal authority to empower sheriffs to close illegal marijuana shops.
- Currently, the legal authority to close illegal shops lies with the state, not the city.
- Sheriff Miranda and his team are hindered by a lack of legal tools to effectively address the issue.
- Discussions with the governor's office and legislature are underway to amend state law, granting the city greater enforcement powers.
- Proposed amendments would allow the city to transition from inspections to the ability to padlock shops that operate illegally.
Justin L. Brannan
5:37:56
Question about the marijuana shops and the sheriffs.
5:38:01
What do we need to do to give the city the power they need to close these shops down once and for all.
Preston Niblack
5:38:12
I first of all, I really want to acknowledge the work of sheriff Miranda and his team out there every day in the front lines trying to address this problem.
5:38:22
They they are working kind of with one hand behind their backs right now because they don't we don't have the legal authority at the city level.
5:38:30
That we need, as as has been noted by a number of people.
5:38:34
The resources to do this are located here, but the legal authority is located at the state.
5:38:39
So we're very happy that, you know, we're having conversations right now with the the governor's office and legislature.
5:38:46
We appreciate your support on the council for changes to the state law that will give us more authority.
5:38:54
And allow us to go from just inspections to actually be able to close down padlock shops that are operating illegally and take other more stringent enforcement measures against them.