Syracuse code enforcement officials will soon have another tool to shut down illegal cannabis retailers that have been popping up across the city. Common councilors Monday approved a measure that will make it easier to enforce the licensing requirement for the shops.
Director of code enforcement Jake Dishaw says many of the issues don’t even involve cannabis. He says these stores are operating in areas not zoned for retail, and don’t meet electrical, HVAC, or fire codes to operate as such.
“There could be issues with egress, alarms, sprinkler protection, parking issues, congestion, exterior lighting, all sorts of things. These are issues that are problematic, even taking cannabis out of the equation.”
Of course, pot sales are also a problem since the state has so far not granted licenses to anyone in Central New York to be able to legally sell it. Yet, Dishaw says there are stores that are boldly advertising themselves as dispensaries, with signs, flags, and bright lights. He says they’re hard to miss, so codes officers simply walk in and start asking questions. Dishaw says they can then seek an immediate injunction against the operator and building owner.
“’You are not supposed to be open with this yet, and we need you to close.’ We’ve had some success closing places where places have shut down once we’ve given them initial notice. But for the places that refuse to shut down, we can go to court, get a court order. If they ignore that, then there’s bigger problems with these people.”
Dishaw says so far, they’ve been able to close a handful of illegal stores, and have their eyes on another half dozen. He also knows cannabis is being sold more covertly in corner retail stores, which the stronger law would also address. It takes effect in two weeks.
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City of Syracuse officials are looking to crack down on illegal marijuana storefronts. The weed shops have been popping up throughout Syracuse, but none operate legally because the state has not yet fully authorized any retail licenses.
City officials are pushing to use code enforcement officers to shut down unlicensed marijuana sellers. But selling weed without a license is not yet part of the code that officers enforce.
The city's corporation counsel, Susan Katzoff, said the common councilors need to update local law to close illegal shops, which she said are a public safety issue.
"Because the general public believes New York state made it legal, and so now it is safe for me to buy this product at the store," Katzoff said. "But that is not at all accurate because none of those establishments have been properly licensed."
Jake Dishaw, Syracuse's director of code enforcement, said the change is not only needed now but because the issue will continue even after the state eventually awards licenses.
"So this helps establish that process so we can regulate it," Dishaw said. "And this isn't a problem that's going to go away when licenses start to come out. Because the gray market that exists today, because of the environment the state has put us in."
Dishaw said the local leaders should also request reimbursement from the state for enforcement costs.
