NYPD Raids and Shuts Down 19 Mobile Cannabis Shops

Earlier this week, the New York City Police Department conducted a raid on the gray-market cannabis retailer Weed World, which operated a fleet of 19 mobile shops throughout the city. The operation was prompted by complaints from municipal organizations about several of the company’s shops openly selling cannabis in central locations, including Times Square, without a city-issued retail license.

According to police, the shops lacked both the medical dispensary licenses already available in the city and the recreational licenses that are set to be issued starting on the 25th of this month. Despite this, the shops were selling their products to anyone interested, although staff reportedly did check customers’ ages.

So far, police have charged representatives of the network with illegal parking, demanding payment of a $500,000 fine. According to authorities, the company has already paid $200,000 of that amount. It is possible that more serious charges will be brought against the company in the near future.

“If you’re looking to buy gray-market recreational cannabis, you won’t find it at the corner of 5th Avenue and 40th Street anymore, as the ‘Weed World’ van that was based there has been shut down and towed,” tweeted NYPD Chief of Patrol Jeffrey Maddrey. “I also don’t recommend looking for other kiosks from this network, as they have also been closed and are unlikely to reopen anytime soon.”

Ongoing Issues with Unlicensed Cannabis Retailers

Tom Harris, head of the Times Square Alliance, told the press that since legalization began in the state, the problem of mobile gray-market cannabis shops around the square has become chronic. According to him, dozens of mobile shops from various companies circulate the area daily, selling everything from edibles, as Weed World did, to cannabis flower and pre-rolled joints.

Because cannabis is legal in New York State and gray-market activity is effectively decriminalized in New York City, authorities are limited in their ability to impose strict criminal penalties, despite the financial harm these businesses cause to the city and state. However, it is possible that more serious charges could be brought against Weed World, as this is not the first time the company has clashed with police. Earlier this summer, city authorities detained the company’s shops, later releasing them after fines for illegal parking were paid. Previously, the organization also operated brick-and-mortar stores, but these were closed under pressure from city officials.

Meanwhile, the city government and police continue their crackdown on various types of unlicensed cannabis retailers. Since the beginning of the month, authorities have identified and issued cease-and-desist orders to 17 shop networks that have sprung up in just the past month. These large-scale raids have been ongoing since 2018, when the first certified therapeutic dispensaries opened in the city, leading to a surge in gray-market businesses posing as legitimate shops.