Q&A
Increase in tobacco and e-cigarette retail inspections, focusing on unlicensed cannabis stores
0:33:44
ยท
122 sec
DCWP representatives discuss the significant increase in tobacco and e-cigarette retail inspections, particularly related to enforcement against unlicensed cannabis stores.
- Response to the proliferation of smoke shops and businesses selling tobacco
- DCWP's participation in a task force focused on this issue
- Use of existing authority to address unlicensed cannabis stores selling regulated products like cigarettes and vapes
- Independent sealing of over 60 illegal stores using DCWP's authority
Julie Menin
0:33:44
Okay.
0:33:44
And can you talk a little bit about the fact that there has been a very significant increase, in tobacco and ecigarette retail inspections, particularly related to enforcement against unlicensed cannabis stores?
Andrew Schwenk
0:34:01
Yeah.
0:34:02
Thank you for the question, council member.
0:34:04
Yeah.
0:34:04
I think, you know, over the, the last couple years, I think all of us in our communities have, seen a proliferation of, smoke shops and businesses selling tobacco.
0:34:15
And I think the city and administration as a whole has, responded to that with, with, enforcement.
0:34:22
DCWP has been a part of that.
0:34:23
As I'm sure you know, we're a part of the, task force, that's that's focused on this issue.
0:34:29
And so I think that has, resulted in, in at least a a a focus of of enforcement efforts in that space.
0:34:37
Of course, we license tobacco retail dealers and electronic retail dealers, and so we always have an eye on, compliance with those laws and rules in any year.
0:34:47
But in in response to recent trends, we have taken a a key a closer look.
Carlos Ortiz
0:34:51
And I would I would say too, prior to the the mayor being able to secure greater, enforcement authority on these unlicensed cannabis stores, I think it was really kind of a a creative mechanism we're able to utilize to recognize that these stores were also selling products that were governed by our laws and rules.
0:35:07
They were also selling cigarettes, also selling vapes, and we were able to to leverage our enforcement authority when there was sort of a gap happening at the state.
0:35:15
And even even prior to, the task force, taking a bigger, a bigger role in this space and being able to, I think it was opening or beginning their Operation Padlock to Protect.
0:35:28
We also ourselves independently, were able to, seal, I think, over a 60, of these illegal stores, using our own authority.
0:35:38
So it was, I think we've we figured out a way to make sure that we can contribute and particularly on the routes to, the greater authority the city secured.