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These six cannabis stores were shut down in New Rochelle. Here’s why

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5 months ago

July 18, 2024

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These six cannabis stores were shut down in New Rochelle. Here’s why

Six cannabis stores in New Rochelle have been shut down for illegal sales.

The New York State Office of Cannabis Management said the following stores were shut down in July for selling illegal cannabis products without a license:

Broccoli Convenience Corp, 62 Centre Ave., New Rochelle
Puff Point, 642 Main St., New Rochelle
Rob Burns Inc., 11 Church St., New Rochelle
New Roc City Smokeshop, 687 Main St., New Rochelle
North Smoke Shop I Corp, 1295 North Ave., New Rochelle
Delta Spacebound Inc, 10 Division St., New Rochelle

There are now only 10 cannabis dispensaries with legal licenses in the Lower Hudson Valley, according to a list from the Office of Cannabis Management. Nine of them are located in Westchester and one is located in Rockland. New Rochelle does not yet have an officially licensed cannabis dispensary.

Law enforcement across the state has been cracking down on illegal shops since OCM began granting licenses to businesses in 2021. Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced legislation in March 2023 to implement emergency regulations that allow law enforcement to seize cannabis products from unlicensed stores, which was passed in May.

On March 7, Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh said seven Rockland dispensaries were shut down for tax fraud and selling illegal products to minors without a license.

On June 21, five more stores were also shut down for selling products without a proper license and for tax fraud. Walsh said officials seized over $400,000 and 170 pounds of marijuana from the five locations in Suffern, Nanuet and Pearl River.

OCM says New Rochelle’s first legal cannabis dispensary, Highlife Health, is currently under construction at 19 Huguenot St.. It is unclear when it is scheduled to open.