• Contact Us
  • Login
Subscribe
LittleAfrica News
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mona Davids, Founder and Publisher
    • Mymoena Kalinisan-Davids, Director of Communications and Editor-in-Chief
  • Newspaper Editions
  • Education
  • Metro
  • Africa
  • Caribbean
  • U.S.
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mona Davids, Founder and Publisher
    • Mymoena Kalinisan-Davids, Director of Communications and Editor-in-Chief
  • Newspaper Editions
  • Education
  • Metro
  • Africa
  • Caribbean
  • U.S.
No Result
View All Result
LittleAfrica News
No Result
View All Result
Home Metro

Mayor Eric Adams: Cannabis Justice for All

Mayor Eric L. Adams by Mayor Eric L. Adams
February 13, 2023
in Metro
Mayor Eric Adams:  Cannabis Justice for All

Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

36
SHARES
647
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Legalizing cannabis was a major step forward for equity and justice in our city. But legalization is about following the new laws, not a free pass to sell unregulated cannabis products. 

Over the last few months, illegal cannabis retailers have taken advantage of decriminalization efforts, with unlicensed smoke shops popping up all over the city. This “Wild West” attempt to gain market share will not be tolerated. New York City has changed the laws, but we intend to enforce them — fairly, equitably, and thoroughly.

For many years, people of color in our communities were routinely targeted when it came to cannabis law enforcement. Cannabis criminalization was used to harass, arrest, and prosecute our brothers and sisters. 

Advocates rightly pushed for an end to these practices, and fought hard to put racial equity at the center of New York’s cannabis legalization 

efforts. Past convictions were automatically expunged or suppressed. People with past convictions for marijuana and their family members are being given priority for these licenses. 50 percent of licenses have been set aside for social and economic equity applicants.

An open and democratic process resulted in the progress so many wanted to see — an end to the “war on drugs” mentality, the establishment of a safe and sanctioned cannabis industry for adults, and a pathway to restorative justice for those who were unfairly prosecuted in the past.

Legal cannabis is expected to be a $1.3 billion industry that will create thousands of jobs and generate approximately $40 million per year in tax revenue for our city. And 40 percent of the tax revenues from legal cannabis will be invested back in the communities that were most harmed by prohibition. 

We have a moral obligation to make sure that the people who were adversely affected by marijuan criminalization get their fair share of this emerging market. That’s part of the mission of the new CannabisNYC Office. his is a city agency that will make New Yorkers aware of opportunities to participate in this industry, promote equity, and help applicants navigate the licensing process. 

In the last month, the first licensed cannabis dispensaries in our city have opened for business. One is owned by a not-for-profit that supports people living with H.I.V. and A.I.D.S., the other by a formerly incarcerated entrepreneur who received priority for a license because he is one of countless Black men who was harmed by the drug war in the 1990s. 

 But these legitimate businesses are facing stiff competition from shops that are not following the rules. Instead of respect for the law, what we have seen recently is the proliferation of storefronts across New York City, selling unlicensed, unregulated untaxed cannabis products. 

 Those who flout the cannabis tax laws and regulations are robbing the very communities that are finally on the cusp of benefiting from a just and equitable system. 

 We cannot allow that.  We’re not going to take two steps back by letting illegal smoke shops take over this emerging market, especially when so many of them are selling unlawful and unlicensed products that could seriously harm consumers.

 It is time for the operation of illegal cannabis dispensaries to end.

 Sheriff Miranda and our partners at the N.Y.P.D. recently took direct action to counter this trend. Over a two-week enforcement blitz,  the Sheriff’s Office issued 566 violations and seized $4.1 million worth of product at 53 locations.

 And this week, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office sent letters to approximately 400 unlicensed smoke shops in Manhattan. The letters state that the city will commence legal eviction proceedings against commercial tenants who are engaged in illegal business activity. That includes the unlicensed sale of cannabis, the sale of untaxed cigarettes, and the sale of adulterated products.  If owners and landlords fail to initiate timely eviction proceedings against these commercial tenants, the Sheriff’s Office will take over and pursue eviction proceedings. 

 While we are not ruling out criminal prosecutions for tax evasion, money laundering, or the sale of cannabis to minors, the focus of this initiative at this time is civil enforcement. We want to give New York’s legal cannabis market a chance to thrive — and deliver on the vision of safety, equity and justice that advocates fought for so long.

 

Related

Previous Post

Governor Hochul Wants Congressman George Santos “Gone”

Next Post

New York City Rent to Rise Significantly

Mayor Eric L. Adams

Mayor Eric L. Adams

Related Posts

Mayor Eric Adams Signs Executive Order Changing and Streamlining Leadership Structure
Metro

Mayor Eric Adams Signs Executive Order Changing and Streamlining Leadership Structure

by LittleAfrica Staff Writer
March 29, 2023
1.4k
Officials Warn of Flesh-Eating Drug in New York City
Metro

Officials Warn of Flesh-Eating Drug in New York City

by LittleAfrica Staff Writer
March 29, 2023
922
Metro

NYC Still Dealing With High Number of Teenage Violence Incidents

by LittleAfrica Staff Writer
March 29, 2023
1.2k
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander Accused Of Exploiting City’s Migrant Crisis to Raise Campaign Funds
Metro

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander Accused Of Exploiting City’s Migrant Crisis to Raise Campaign Funds

by LittleAfrica Staff Writer
March 29, 2023
971
Tonya Boyd Becomes First Black Woman To Become Chief Of Training for FDNY Emergency Medical Services
Metro

Tonya Boyd Becomes First Black Woman To Become Chief Of Training for FDNY Emergency Medical Services

by LittleAfrica Staff Writer
March 29, 2023
1.7k
Next Post
New York City Rent to Rise Significantly

New York City Rent to Rise Significantly

Translate

en English
sw Swahiliyo Yorubazu Zuluso Somalisu Sudanesesn Shonaht Haitian Creolefr Frenchpt Portuguesenl Dutchen Englishes Spanishde Germanru Russianar Arabicaf Afrikaanssq Albanianam Amharicbn Bengalizh-CN Chinese (Simplified)da Danishtl Filipinofi Finnishel Greekha Hausaiw Hebrewhi Hindiis Icelandicig Igboit Italianja Japaneseko Koreanlb Luxembourgishms Malaymi Maorino Norwegianfa Persiansv Swedishtr Turkish
LittleAfrica News Newspaper : February 14-February 20, 2023
Metro

LittleAfrica News Newspaper : February 14-February 20, 2023

Local, National, and International News for the Diaspora LittleAfrica News Newspaper : February 14 — February 20, 2023

February 14, 2023
LittleAfrica News Newspaper : February 7-February 13, 2023
Metro

LittleAfrica News Newspaper : February 7-February 13, 2023

LittleAfrica News Newspaper : February 7 — February 13, 2023

February 6, 2023
Newspaper Digital Editions
Metro

LittleAfrica News Newspaper : January 31-February 6

Local, National, and International News for the Diaspora LittleAfrica News Newspaper : January 31 — February6, 2023

January 30, 2023
LittleAfrica News Newspaper : March 7-March 13
Print Newspaper Edition

LittleAfrica News Newspaper : March 7-March 13

LittleAfrica News Newspaper : March 7 — March 13, 2023

March 6, 2023
LittleAfrica News Newspaper : March 14-March 20
Print Newspaper Edition

LittleAfrica News Newspaper : March 14-March 20

LittleAfrica News Newspaper : March 14 — March 20, 2023

March 13, 2023

Local, National, and International News for the Diaspora

BOMESI - Black Owned Media Equity and Sustainability Institute

Recent Posts

  • Mayor Eric Adams Signs Executive Order Changing and Streamlining Leadership Structure
  • Officials Warn of Flesh-Eating Drug in New York City
  • NYC Still Dealing With High Number of Teenage Violence Incidents
  • Vice President Kamala Harris Embarks on First Official Visit to Africa
  • New York City Comptroller Brad Lander Accused Of Exploiting City’s Migrant Crisis to Raise Campaign Funds

Menu

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mona Davids, Founder and Publisher
    • Mymoena Kalinisan-Davids, Director of Communications and Editor-in-Chief
  • Newspaper Editions
  • Education
  • Metro
  • Africa
  • Caribbean
  • U.S.

© 2022 LittleAfrica News. A Project of Social Impact Strategies. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • LittleAfrica News Newspaper : March 1 – March 15
  • LittleAfrica News Newspaper Print Edition : February 16 – February 28
  • Mona Davids, Founder and Publisher
  • Mymoena Kalinisan-Davids, Director of Communications and Editor-in-Chief
  • Newspaper Digital Editions
  • Pricing
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

© 2022 LittleAfrica News. A Project of Social Impact Strategies. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?