Signs reading “ILLICIT CANNABIS SEIZED,” in bright red lettering can be seen on closed storefronts across town. Here in Monroe County, only six businesses are licensed to sell cannabis.
“I can tell you that we are out every week,” said Daniel Haughney of the Office of Cannabis Management.
Haughney is the New York State Office of Cannabis Management’s Director of Enforcement. He said in the past week, OCM helped local authorities shutter nearly 20 locations in our area; including the simultaneous raids carried out by Greece Police and other agencies across Monroe County on Wednesday.
“If any of them apply for a license at a future date, we know to connect them to this illicit operation,” added Haughney. “That would effectively keep them from the ability to get a license for a minimum of three years per the MRTA.” (Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act)
Seven people were arrested in those raids after a months-long investigation. Greece police said they seized more than one million dollars in illicit funds, and more than one thousand pounds of illegal products.
In a separate case, Irondequoit clothing store “Higher Intentions” was shut down on Oct. 27. Irondequoit Police Chief Scott Peters said undercover officers attending an event there observed illegal sales occurring.
Peters added that another business in the same building had been shut down for illegal sales twice before. Haughney said the owners were padlocked and several separate businesses operating there were cited. The owners of Higher Intentions said online that the store does not sell cannabis, but acknowledged it was shut down by OCM for cannabis on its premises, declining to comment further.
“I believe there were 11 separate entities that were set up selling their products without licenses within that location,” said Haughney of the Irondequoit store’s case.
H/T: 13wham.com
