NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced a significant expansion plan for the legal cannabis market in New York, as well as the seizure of 8,500 pounds of illegal weed products in a statewide crackdown.
"We know there's room for improvement as New York works to launch a brand-new cannabis industry and crack down on illicit operators, and I'm committed to working with all stakeholders to get the job done right," Hochul said. "We will continue working to build the most equitable adult-use cannabis industry in the nation that invests in communities and rights the wrongs of the past."
The plan includes making hundreds of licenses available for those who would like to grow their business legally. The application process starts on Oct. 4 and will continue for the next two months.
Hochul also shared that the Office of Cannabis Management and the Department of Taxation and Finance confiscated over 8,500 pounds of illegal products and it's estimated to have a street value of more than $42 million.
Many of the seizures were from a two-day crackdown Monday and Tuesday that focused on Manhattan's West Side and Downtown Brooklyn, which have seen a "proliferation of illegal cannabis shops," the governor said.
A partnership is also in works which will allow local areas to close down businesses that are illegally selling cannabis.
People can now apply for different types of licenses to legally work with cannabis through the New York Business Express platform. The deadline is Dec. 4.
