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County attorney outlines landlord‑based approach to halt unlicensed cannabis shops
Summary
Maury Josephson told the legislature the county plans to use landlord‑remedies under state real‑property law to evict commercial tenants operating unlicensed cannabis stores rather than conducting seizures; the approach would target property owners who knowingly lease to illicit operators.
Tompkins County’s legal office described a planned enforcement strategy to address unlicensed cannabis retail operations that have proliferated locally.
County Attorney Maury Josephson told the legislature the county is preparing to use remedies under the Real Property Actions and Procedures Law (RPAPL §715) to notify landlords of unlawful activity on their premises and seek eviction actions if landlords fail to act. Josephson said the county can “step into the shoes of the landlord” and pursue evictions, and that financial penalties and eviction are designed to remove the storefronts without resource‑intensive seizure operations. He explained the county’s preference for property‑owner remedies over direct product confiscation because seizing products creates custody and storage obligations that the county may not be equipped to manage.
Josephson said the first step will be to identify the scope—locations, property owners and tenancy records—and then build a strategy that could include ‘mystery shopper’ documentation before filing actions; he noted Public Safety Committee review would continue. Some legislators urged additional enforcement options and questioned whether the landlord route alone will remove illicit products from the street. Josephson said the county may return to committee for additional direction and that targeted enforcement will prioritize collaboration with municipal partners.
