Jun. 10, 2024 By Anthony Medina The New York City Sheriff’s Department shuttered ten illegal smoke shops within Councilwoman Joann Ariola’s district last month, according to exclusive information shared by her office. Ariola, who represents neighborhoods in south and central Queens, such as Howard Beach and Glendale, has remained a staunch proponent of further restrictions…
Read More
Jan. 4, 2024 By Anthony Medina A new bill sponsored by Queens Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar aims to shut down smoke shops that are illegally selling cannabis in New York City. Rajkumar’s bill, called the SMOKEOUT Act (A8428), was introduced in Albany last week, and would grant local municipalities the power to close smoke shops caught illegally selling cannabis. Currently, the industry is primarily policed on a state level and enforcement has been limited. The bill aims to address the public’s concern about the proliferation of illegal smoke shops, which have emerged since cannabis use was legalized in 2021. “My…
Read More
Dec. 20, 2023 By Iryna Shkurhan Mayor Eric Adams held a town hall meeting in Corona Monday night with residents demanding answers as to how the city plans to address increased prostitution, illegal vending and the proliferation of unlicensed smoke shops in the neighborhood. More than hundred attendees attended the event in the gymnasium at Elm Tree Elementary School on 98th Street and peppered the mayor with questions primarily dealing with quality-of-life issues. Several questions also dealt with an uptick in homelessness in the parks as well as crime and street flooding. A hot topic dealt with the prevalence of…
Read More
Oct. 17, 2023 By Dean Moses Jeremy Rivera wept on Tuesday afternoon after cutting the ribbon on his new business: Astoria’s first legal adult-use cannabis dispensary. The shelves of Terp Bros sat full of marijuana flowers, edibles, pre-rolls, and various other CBD products as local elected officials flocked to the new shop at 3610…
Aug. 15, 2023 By Bill Parry While it remains difficult to pinpoint the exact number of illegal smoke shops and unlicensed cannabis dispensaries that have proliferated across Queens, it is estimated that more than 8,000 are operating citywide. On Monday a new law was enacted that gives the authorities the power to fine landlords for…
Read More