Upper West Side Has 26 Illegal Marijuana Stores: Pol Survey

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — There are 26 unlicensed businesses illegally selling marijuana on the Upper West Side, according to a recent survey by Council Member Gale Brewer's office.

The number was found from a survey of 61 bodegas, delis, smoke shops, and newsstands between West 54th and West 108th streets.

“I am concerned that the free-for-all environment will become entrenched and undermine the law’s intent before the legal market takes shape,” Brewer said. “There are public health risks such as underage use and contaminated products.

Additionally, Brewers survey found 22 of the 26 cannabis selling Upper West Side businesses were also selling tobacco products — some without a license to do so.

The longtime elected official emphasized while there is no ambiguity in the law, "there's ambiguity in who should enforce it."

Brewer called on city and state officials to come up with a solution for all the businesses selling cannabis without a license.

Specifically, Brewer pointed to the NYC Department of Finance and the NYC Sheriff's Office for help in inspecting businesses, seizing illegal products, and issuing civil fines.

"To be clear, I do not want to see unlicensed cannabis sellers enter the criminal justice system for anything less than severe criminal conduct that threatens public safety, but the need for consistent seizure and civil penalties to curtail unlicensed sales is apparent," Brewer added in a recent letter to the New York State Office of Cannabis Management and the NYPD.

To give added context on Brewer finding 26 Upper West Side businesses selling marijuana, as of Monday, only four retail cannabis licenses have been awarded a license to do so in Manhattan.

None of them are yet open.

In response to "hundreds" of Upper West Sider calls and emails about the issue, Brewer and Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal will host a West Side Cannabis Town Hall on Tuesday at John Jay College with representatives from the Office of Cannabis Management, NYPD, Manhattan DA's Office, and Community Boards 4 and 7.

You can find out more and sign up for the Zoom for the meeting — here.