The New York State Assembly has approved the SmokeOut Act as part of the state budget, granting local authorities the power to close illegal cannabis stores and imposing fines of up to $50,000 on landlords who fail to evict such tenants.
The legislation, spearheaded by Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar of Queens, aims to intensify enforcement against unauthorized cannabis operations.
Assemblywoman Rajkumar, a Stanford Law School and the University of Pennsylvania graduate, is the first South Asian woman elected to a state office in New York.
She has a lawyer and professor background and a proven record of representing classes of women and workers facing workplace discrimination.
Before her election to the State Legislature, Rajkumar served as the Director of Immigration Affairs for New York State.
In an exclusive interview with LittleAfrica News, she explained that she introduced the SmokeOut Act on the first day of the legislative session, which quickly captured the attention of legislators and was passed along with the New York State budget.
The legislation enforces several prohibitions, including the sale of cannabis to children, operations adjacent to schools, the sale of unregulated cannabis, and the presence of illegal firearms in stores.
Rajkumar explained that the act would change the process of cannabis enforcement.
Rajkumari said, “The act is going to change the face of cannabis enforcement in New York City, allowing us to shut down the illegal shops quickly.”
She added, “New York City will now have the power to shut down the shops on its own without having to wait for the State Office of Cannabis Management.”
The enforcement of cannabis laws has been challenging due to the scarcity of inspectors.
The state’s cannabis management agency, with only 14 inspectors, is responsible for overseeing more than 36,000 shops.
However, with the introduction of the SmokeOut initiative, the City Sheriff now has the authority to deputize members of the NYPD to enforce regulations against these establishments.
The illegal cannabis operation will now be classified as an “egregious actor.”
The lawmaker said, “If the shop is selling cannabis to children, it counts as an egregious actor. If it’s operating next to a school, it can be shut down immediately.”
“If it’s selling unregulated cannabis, which is actually dangerous, it can be shut down. And also, if it has the presence of illegal firearms, the city will be able to shut it down immediately,” she added.
Violating a padlock order under this legislation will result in a Class A misdemeanor charge.
Rajkumar emphasized the need for a centralized system that enables the public to file complaints and report both existing and new shops, ensuring authorities can take appropriate action.
During the interview, Assemblywoman Rajkumar also mentioned that in response to numerous reports of injuries and incidents of e-bike fires resulting in deaths, she is working on legislation to regulate e-bikes.
She advocates for legislation requiring e-bikes to be registered with the State Department of Motor Vehicles, obtain a license plate, and undergo regular inspections and insurance.
“This is going to create accountability and make the roads a lot safer,” she concluded.
