New York, NY – Congressman Jerry Nadler. Assemblymember Harvey Epstein, Senator Kristen Gonzalez, Councilmember Carlina Rivera, community leaders, and the President of Housing Works gathered with community members outside of High Light Smoke Shop at 244 East 23rd Street on East 23rd between 2nd Ave and 3rd Ave. This illegal dispensary is close to multiple schools in the area including P.S. 47 The American Sign Language School, which is located directly across the street. Legal cannabis dispensaries are prohibited from operating within 500 feet of a school or 200 feet of a religious institution.

At the rally, Assembly Member Epstein announced that his office had reported this smoke shop to the Office of Cannabis Management and the Sheriff's Office. Participants spoke about the need for consumers to choose licensed shops when purchasing marijuana products. The products sold in unlicensed shops are unregulated, creating unsafe conditions.

Additionally, the proliferation of unlicensed cannabis shops such as High Light Smoke Shop seriously threatens the legal market, making it difficult for members of communities historically harmed by marijuana criminalization who own legal cannabis shops to thrive. This community deserves the largest market share and unlicensed cannabis shops perilously undermine that goal. Representatives from Housing Works, NYC’s first legal dispensary, were present to talk about the negative impact these businesses have on the legal market.

“Unlicensed cannabis shops are a threat to consumers, the legal market, and our entire community,” said Assembly Member Harvey Epstein. “As a supporter of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, I believe that the sale of cannabis should be used as an instrument of social justice, allowing individuals who have suffered the impact of criminalization to enter the market legally and receive priority status when applying for their licenses. Unlicensed shops like these perilously undermine that goal while also evading safety requirements and taxes”.

“Unlicensed smoke shops not only jeopardize public safety but also undermine the legal market that we are striving to build, which prioritizes social justice and supports those most impacted by the war on drugs," said Senator Kristen Gonzalez, Senate District 59. "We hear our community members, and we hear concerned New Yorkers: closing these unlicensed operations is crucial to ensuring a fair and equitable cannabis industry in New York."

“I have always been – and continue to be – one of the strongest supporters for marijuana reform to correct the historic injustice of the failed War on Drugs, but the High Light Smoke Shop is in flagrant violation of New York law,” said Congressman Nadler. “I support the right of dispensary owners to conduct their business, provided that they do so in a legal, safe way as outlined by New York’s marijuana reform legislation. These illicit stores undermine the legal cannabis market, and we must continue to fight for their expedited closure to fulfill the social justice aims of our state marijuana laws.”

"As cannabis emerges as a major industry in the city, it’s critical that we support the legal dispensaries that get a license, sell regulated products, and operate safely. That’s why we must ensure that smoke shops defying the law and vital safeguards – such as operating next to a school – are shut down,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “Illegal smoke shops are a threat to New Yorkers' health and safety and cannot be left unchecked.”

“When New York finally legalized recreational marijuana in 2021, it represented a milestone achievement for communities who have been unjustly and disproportionately criminalized for cannabis use. Unlicensed dispensaries do not comply with regulations meant to protect health and life, facilitate labor exploitation and abuse, and some have been found to sell to minors and host other illegal activities. It is critical that unlicensed businesses are closed permanently and that we support legal vendors who operate within a framework that protects safety and wellbeing, committed to equity and justice in their business model,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera (D-02).

"Purchasing cannabis from licensed shops is safer for consumers, prevents marketing to children, and generates tax revenue that supports communities harmed by the War on Drugs. Housing Works, the first legal dispensary, creates training opportunities for justice-involved individuals and fosters entrepreneurship within marginalized communities. 100% of our proceeds fund our mission to end HIV/AIDS and homelessness. We want the cannabis industry in NY to be legal, safe, and fair.” said Matthew Bernardo, President of Housing Works.

"CB6 regularly hears about illegal smoke shops from residents of our district. We have been and remain highly focused on the concerns expressed by residents in relation to illicit cannabis sales in their neighborhoods. While we do not object to cannabis establishments that operate lawfully and make every effort to be good neighbors, Manhattan Community Board 6 strongly opposes any cannabis business that operates in violation of the law, especially when they are located near a school. CB6 reports these illegal smoke shops to the appropriate authorities at the City and State levels, as we have done with this illegal smoke shop. Reporting these illegal smoke shops is of the utmost importance to our district because several of the unlicensed smoke shops we reported and that have since been shut down were selling cannabis to minors, making the existence of this smoke shop near a school all the more concerning. Holding illegal smoke shops like this one accountable will help keep our students healthy and safe. We are encouraged that the City and State have taken an accelerated approach in closing these illegal smoke shops and we have certainly seen the results of these efforts in our district and city-wide. We at CB6 will continue to encourage these efforts and to ensure that closed smoke shops stay closed. We thank Assembly Member Epstein for his partnership with CB6 on finding ways to hold illegal smoke shops accountable." Anton Mallner, Chair of Manhattan Community Board 6's Business Affairs & Licensing Committee.