Mayor Adams shutters over 1,000 illegal shops, destroys 4 tons of deized cannabis

In a decisive move underscoring New York City’s commitment to public safety and regulatory enforcement, Mayor Eric Adams announced the destruction of four tons of illegal cannabis products, a significant milestone in the city’s “Operation Padlock to Protect.”

This initiative has successfully shut down over 1,000 unlicensed cannabis shops, marking a collaborative effort among various city agencies to combat the proliferation of illegal cannabis sales.

Sheriff Anthony Miranda of the New York City Sheriff’s Office opened the press conference, emphasizing the collective effort behind this operation. “This is also an announcement about the efforts that have been made,” he stated, referencing the joint work of the Sheriff’s Office, the New York City Police Department, and other city agencies. “It was the mayor’s insight that said that all the law enforcement agencies were working collectively.”

Mayor Adams highlighted the extensive scope of the city’s enforcement efforts, noting, “A thousand shops were closed, and you had to use the skill set of the accumulation of all of our agencies.” The mayor’s remarks were filled with gratitude for the teamwork and determination that led to this point. “This is what it is about, you know. You actually stand here and you can smell the cannabis that’s here.”

The operation’s success is not just in the closures, but also in preventing illegal cannabis from entering landfills, thanks to a partnership with Reworld Waste. Mayor Adams praised Reworld’s role, stating, “Reworld is a real partner. I want to thank them. And in addition to just removing the illegal cannabis, they remove over 800,000 tons of garbage off our landfills by destroying it here.”

Adel Omrani, President of Reworld, echoed this sentiment, explaining the environmental benefits of their process. “Diverting this from landfill makes it so that we, two and a half million tons of greenhouse gasses are averted and diverted because they don’t go to landfills,” Omrani said, highlighting the company’s commitment to sustainability.

The press conference also addressed public concerns about the destruction process. Mayor Adams assured the community that incinerating the cannabis would not result in any environmental or health hazards. Bobby Green, facility manager at Reworld, explained, “We have a lot of filtration systems… so that what actually exits out of our stack is about 99.9 percent water vapor.”

Addressing questions about the contents of the seized cannabis, Mayor Adams warned of the dangers associated with these illegal products. “One thing we know is that it is not going through the rigorous process of ensuring the authenticity of cannabis. That is the problem,” he stated, highlighting the health risks posed by unregulated products.

The initiative has drawn attention to the broader issue of illegal cannabis sales and their impact on legal businesses. Mayor Adams urged the public to refrain from supporting unlicensed shops, noting, “To those who say they’d rather go to the illegal stores, you could pay the financial tax or you could pay the physical tax.”

With over 4,000 locations inspected and 1,000 closures achieved, the city remains vigilant in its efforts to curb illegal cannabis operations. This operation not only signifies a substantial victory for public safety but also sets a precedent for future enforcement actions.

As the city continues its regulatory efforts, Mayor Adams’s leadership and the coordinated efforts of New York’s law enforcement agencies underscore a commitment to community safety and legal accountability.