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New York City Mayor Eric Adams vowed to New Yorkers that he will not be ‘heavy handed’ on illegal weed sales before cannabis is officially legalized later this year.
Adams mingled with the cannabis loving crowd at the Cannabis World Congress and Business event held at the Jacob Javitz Convention Center on Friday.
In late March 2021, former Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation that legalized the sale of recreational marijuana for adults 21 and over.
The licensing system that’s supposed to regulate cannabis sales isn’t expected to kick off until later this year.
In the interim, Adams said that he doesn’t see a need for ‘cracking down on anyone caught dealing marijuana out of stores or on the street’ in the interim
Instead of handing out fines or issuing arrests for those who sell weed, Adams is looking at the big picture and encouraging others to do the same as the the city moves closer to launching the legal market, The Daily News reported.
‘There needs to be a system of not heavy-handedness, but going in and explaining to that store that, ‘Listen, you can’t do this,’ give them a warning,’ Adams said.
But, he did caution that there may be some form of enforcement for those who ‘refuse to adhere to the rules.’
‘If someone refuses to get in line after receiving a slap on the wrist for illicit weed pushing, though, ‘some form’ of enforcement may be warranted,’ Adams said.
He continued: ‘If they refuse to adhere to the rules, then you have to come back and take some form of enforcement actions, such as a summons, such as, you know, talking about their ability to sell alcohol,’ he said.
The Mayor said $5 million has already been put aside in his executive budget proposal to provide support to New Yorkers on applications for recreational pot sales and cultivation licenses.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in April that he believes ‘the cannabis industry could be a major boon to our economic recovery industry, creating new jobs, building wealth in historically underserved communities, and increasing state and local tax revenue’
A few New Yorkers (pictured) are following Mayor Adams orders to ‘Enjoy yourself, light up.’ Some even dressed the part like the man smoking a fat joint while wearing a very snazzy looking marijuana- patterned suit with matching top hat
The Friday show that featured dozens of new products highlighting what is hot in the world of hemp also had panel talks about the economic potential of the cannabis industry.
Something Adams is passionate about since he announced in April that the cannabis industry in New York City can help the economic recovery and potentially even the playing field.
‘The cannabis industry could be a major boon to our economic recovery industry, creating new jobs, building wealth in historically underserved communities, and increasing state and local tax revenue,’ Adams said in a release.
‘With a new regulated adult-use cannabis market on the immediate horizon, now is the time for our city to make proactive investments to ensure the people disproportionately impacted by the criminalization of these substances can reap the benefits of the new industry.’
Adams, who encouraged people to spend some money and get high, did joke that he was a tad ‘disappointed’ that there wasn’t ‘a nice scent of weed’ in the room.
On Friday, Adams wasn’t high on the happy herb but appeared to be naturally euphoric as he mingled with the cannabis loving crowd on Friday at the Cannabis World Congress and Business event held at the Jacob Javitz Convention Center in midtown Manhattan
A truck that sells weed all day long pictured here on the Manhattan streets. Some of the items the vendors sells include vapes, edibles, flowers, and pre-rolled joints
In January, Adams unveiled a comprehensive plan to combat surge in crime. It included increased foot patrols as well as the revival of a plain clothes unit named Neighborhood Safety Teams.
He also launched his subway safety initiative in April, sending about 1,000 officers into the city’s busy transit system to weed out crime and vagrancy.
Mayor Eric Adams (pictured Monday, May 30) campaigned on a platform of cracking down on crime. On Thursday, he appointed Andre Mitchell (not pictured) as his ‘gun violence czar’
And on Thursday, Adams appointed Andre Mitchell as his ‘gun violence czar.’ In that position, he will co-chair a new anti-violence task force with Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright aimed at ending the city’s gun epidemic.
The group will be comprised of Adams’ deputy mayors, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell and Schools Chancellor David Banks.
‘Everyone that impacts or touches the lives of the young people will be part of the solution of dealing with gun violence because we can’t continue to believe that because you made an arrest, you solved the problem,’ Adams said in a news conference.
‘We want to make sure we give the resources to the people that need it that’s on the ground. We’re going to do more.’
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