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Committee hears concerns about unlicensed cannabis retailers; members ask for enforcement review
Summary
Committee members and county staff said licensed dispensaries are complying with state rules while unlicensed street/outdoor sellers are operating and likely not remitting taxes; the committee requested follow-up on enforcement and regulatory options.
The committee spent time on cannabis tax receipts and enforcement issues on Feb. 13 after finance presented quarter‑to‑date cannabis revenues and committee members raised concerns about unlicensed retailers.
Laurie Skerritt presented the revenue data and said the September–November 2024 quarter was “the best quarter we’ve had to date.” Committee members then asked about swings in receipts and whether fluctuations were caused by dispensaries opening and closing.
Committee member Shawna (or Shauna) and others described a mixed retail landscape: some licensed dispensaries have followed New York State licensing and packaging rules and remit taxes, while other outlets have opened informally — sometimes in trailers — and likely are not registered or paying tax. Shawna said she was “concerned about the fact that…there are some places that have gone by the law…and other places that have not gone by the book and they continue to operate, not collect taxes.”
Public‑safety and legal staff said enforcement steps have been tried in the past. A county attorney’s office representative said the assistant attorney general previously closed some illegal sites but some reopened, and enforcement can be legally and administratively complex: “our case that went to the appellate division third department…shows how much work goes into just 1 ticket.”
Committee members asked staff to follow up with the sheriff’s office and public‑safety partners and to prepare options for enforcement, including local code or ordinance approaches. One staff member said a draft local enforcement law is being formed but remains “in the formative stage.”
Ending: Committee members signaled interest in a focused public‑safety agenda item and asked staff to return with enforcement options and a status update on licensed dispensary counts and tax remittances.
