After New York legalized recreational marijuana in 2021, the city was flooded with nearly 3,000 unlicensed pot shops. But now, new state rules have given officials the power to crack down hard. Since April, they've closed around 700 of these illegal stores, using their new authority to padlock businesses and raid them without court orders. Despite some ongoing legal battles and lawsuits from shuttered shops, the crackdown is starting to bring order to the chaotic cannabis market. With over $57 million in fines issued and daily enforcement actions, New York City is sending a strong message: illegal pot shops are not welcome reports Jana J. Pruet from The Epoch Times.

What’s Going On?

The Problem: After New York legalized marijuana, thousands of illegal pot shops popped up all over the city. There were nearly 3,000 of these unlicensed stores compared to only about 60 licensed ones.

The Response: The city sheriff’s office has stepped up its game, closing around 700 of these...