Has Operation Padlock to Protect been effective?
The initiative gave law enforcement the rights to inspect smoke and cannabis shops and padlock them if they were selling illegal substances.
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A City Council committee will be examining today the effectiveness of Operation Padlock to Protect – an initiative by Mayor Eric Adams to bust stores selling cannabis illegally.
The initiative gave law enforcement the rights to inspect smoke and cannabis shops and padlock them if they were selling illegal substances.
There have been 210 stores taken down by Operation Padlock to Protect so far in the Bronx. One of them, Family Deli on East Tremont Avenue, had more than 170 pounds of cannabis in the store.
Legal cannabis shop owners told Gov. Kathy Hochul's office that they saw a 97% increase in sales within the three months after the operation launched in May.
The committee will also look at how the illegal products are stores and disposed of.
As of the end of August, the mayor says 1,000 shops were sealed in New York City.
Anyone that has a concern about illegal drugs being sold in shops is encouraged by the city to call 311.
