The recent agreement between the Manhattan district attorney and a entrepreneur involved in the illegal marijuana trade sheds light on the chaotic implementation of pot legalization in New York and the deterioration of the city’s quality of life. Rami Alzandani, who allegedly operated 11 illegal cannabis stores, will pay $103,000 in restitution and forfeit an additional $300,000 in profits as part of a non-prosecution agreement. While his businesses can continue to operate, they will be subjected to regular and random inspections for three years. However, the total penalty of approximately $37,000 per store may be perceived as a minimal cost of engaging in illegal activity. This raises the question of what will happen to the other 1,500 illegal pot shops in the city. Despite the prevalence of these stores, only 20 are legally authorized in the entire state of New York. Illicit shops began appearing shortly after the state legalized marijuana, and city officials responded with insignificant $250 fines, which are likely seen as a minor inconvenience. In an effort to address the issue, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a crackdown on illegal shops, promising higher fines, evictions, and store closures. However, recent police raids on illegal stores resulted in their immediate reopening the next day. It is important to note that these owners are not committing harmless infractions. Apart from the risks associated with purchasing unregulated cannabis, such as receiving tainted or mislabeled products, these shops have become targets for criminals. In 2022 alone, unlicensed smoke shops experienced 593 robberies, a significant increase from the previous year, posing threats to both customers and employees. There have been multiple incidents of violence, including the stabbing of a clerk during a robbery at a store that had been targeted multiple times by the same group of thieves. Additionally, unregulated weed shops create a discordant environment that disrupts the city’s sense of order and quality of life. Their uncontrolled proliferation also reinforces the notion that breaking laws in New York is a profitable endeavor. This perception has grown under the current administration, which has shifted away from “broken windows” policing and implemented lenient policies that refuse to prosecute certain crimes. This recipe for lawlessness and disorder ultimately burdens the public. Therefore, cracking down on these illegal shops is a crucial step towards restoring sanity and civility on New York’s streets.
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