Q&A
Council Member Sanchez questions Sheriff Miranda on cannabis enforcement aftermath and community education
1:06:16
·
3 min
Council Member Pierina Ana Sanchez engages in a Q&A session with Sheriff Anthony Miranda, focusing on the aftermath of cannabis enforcement activities and community education efforts. They discuss violence following shop closures, jurisdiction over street-level activities, and education initiatives for legal cannabis businesses.
- Sheriff Miranda clarifies that street-level enforcement falls under NYPD jurisdiction
- The Sheriff's Office provides information on legal cannabis business opportunities during enforcement
- Community outreach includes participation in events and discussions with community boards about cannabis-related concerns
Pierina Ana Sanchez
1:06:16
Thank you so much, Chair, and thank you, Sheriff, and and the entire team for everything that you do and have been doing in in my district certainly.
1:06:25
I have several questions regarding what happens in the aftermath of enforcement by the sheriff's office and the interagency enforcement.
1:06:35
In particular, in in my district, we've noticed that there have been increases in violence after a shot is shut down.
1:06:43
So my first question is, does the sheriff's office?
1:06:47
And I don't know if NYPD has folks that can answer questions here today, What are what steps and measures are you putting into place to calm down the violence?
1:06:56
Because some of the some of the drug activity that moved inside of to those illegal smoke shops then come outside.
Anthony Miranda
1:07:03
Okay.
1:07:04
I know the police department is not here to testify about their enforcement on the on the street level, but that enforcement outside the location or any other street conditions would fall to the New York City Police Department.
Pierina Ana Sanchez
1:07:15
Okay.
1:07:15
Thank you.
1:07:16
That's actually my second question.
1:07:17
I know Council member, CheBRUER, asked about vans.
1:07:21
We're seeing a lot of pop up tables, so is that not in the sheriff's department's jurisdiction?
Anthony Miranda
1:07:26
Pop up tables, not necessary.
1:07:28
Again, most of that will fall to the police department for enforcement, for street enforcement, on certain cases depending on the situation, we may be able to tie it to some of our enforcement activities.
Pierina Ana Sanchez
1:07:41
Thank you.
1:07:41
Okay.
1:07:42
Thank you.
1:07:42
So I'll follow-up with them.
1:07:44
Does the Sheriff's Department do any provide any education regarding how to become a legal smoke shop when when you do this enforcement?
Anthony Miranda
1:07:53
Generally, when we go into a location, we will share with them that the NYC cannabis.
1:07:58
And then for the people who are truly not informed, then we send them to the state office of cannabis management where they should be getting the information on how to participate legally.
1:08:08
And most people who don't understand that is strictly there's more than one product, more than one way to get involved in the cannabis business, And so they're not informed.
1:08:15
People just simply believe there's only the front mechanism of actually selling cannabis when there are other opportunities to get into business as well.
1:08:22
That's one of the reasons why we join the NYC Cannabis when they do the community events.
1:08:27
To give them a balanced presentation of what law enforcement or what the sheriff's office expects and what we see and how they can operate within the boundaries of the law and be able to have a good business.
Pierina Ana Sanchez
1:08:36
Great.
1:08:36
Thank you.
1:08:37
I'm gonna certainly follow-up with you on that to make sure that we're we're able to have you your presence and their presence at our community events to share information.
1:08:45
And then my last question, this might not be entirely for you, but is the sheriff's office or any other agency that you're aware of in the city are you working to do education with communities who are turning down, you know, and the community board process are turning down or saying no to the opening of legal cannabis smoke shops?
Anthony Miranda
1:09:06
We go out and speak at many of the community boards that we're we're invited to.
1:09:10
We also know that many of them have their own cannabis committees.
1:09:14
And so we do sit with them when they ask particular questions about what the concerns are and what they're facing, and then we're able to discuss with them what we've been seeing and what's within their basis, things they should ask.
1:09:25
Before they approve anybody to make sure that they haven't been involved illegally, and now just trying to join the legal market.
Pierina Ana Sanchez
1:09:31
Got it.
1:09:31
Thank you.
1:09:32
Thank you so much.
1:09:32
And, again, from the Northwest Bronx, thank you for everything that you've been doing.
Anthony Miranda
1:09:35
Thank you so much.
1:09:36
Future.
