In 2021, New York made it legal to sell cannabis for recreational purposes, not just for medical reasons. But businesses need a license to sell it. Even though some stores followed the rules and got licenses, many did not. In New York City alone, there are about 1,200 stores selling cannabis without a license.
These new laws give more power to the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and the Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF). They can now visit businesses to make sure they are following the rules and paying their taxes. If businesses are not following the rules or paying their taxes, they could get into trouble. The most serious rulebreakers could be fined $20,000 per day. The new laws also make it illegal to sell cannabis without a license.
Many people are happy about these new laws. They believe the laws will make it safer to buy cannabis. They also think the laws will help the legal cannabis market grow. However, some people are asking why it took so long to make these laws, considering the risks of buying unsafe cannabis from unlicensed businesses.
Now, any business that was given a warning about selling cannabis without a license will have to go to a hearing. If they are still breaking the rules, they will have to pay a fine. The OCM and DTF will check on these businesses to make sure they stop breaking the rules. If they keep breaking the rules, the business could be closed until it follows the law. The goal is to stop businesses from selling cannabis without a license, which will make buying cannabis safer for everyone.