While state police were stationed outside the store, OCM agents collected cannabis flowers, gummy bears and pre-rolled joints, placed them in evidence bags and then changed the locks on the store doors.

Since late May, the state has closed 17 illegal cannabis stores in western New York State — more than the 15 legal stores that have opened in the same region since the state legalized retail sales of cannabis.

Thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul’s new enforcement measures, the state has been able to crack down on unlicensed cannabis shops more quickly than in the past.

“Before, we had to put them through an administrative hearing process to get a closure order. That took months,” said Daniel Haughney, director of investigations and enforcement for the Office of Cannabis Management. “Now we can close it immediately.”

Still, challenges remain. The understaffed agency is using a task force model to expand its resources, but the agency is overwhelmed. And with thousands of illegal businesses doing business unabashedly in the state, enforcement is a daunting task.

The 17 Western New York stores that were investigated and closed for selling cannabis without a license are part of a crackdown on unlicensed businesses by the state’s Office of Cannabis Management that has closed more than 1,000 stores in New York, most of them in and around New York City.

In May there was a government shutdown:

• Buffalo Smokes II, 394 Evans St. in Williamsville.
• Jimmy’s Cigar & Smoke Shop, 6292 State Route 21 in Alfred.
• Sweet Puffs, 5310 Southwestern Boulevard in Hamburg.
• Honeycomb Hideout, 1811 Pine Ave. in Niagara Falls.
• Secret Labz, 1821 Pine Ave. in Niagara Falls.
• Great Lakes Green Gifts, 2776 Main St. in Newfane.
• B2W Smoke Shop, 2250 Main St.

In June, the state closed:

• West Coast Vibez Riverside Smoke Shop, 742 Tonawanda St.
• Prism Smoke and Vape, 1079 Union Road in West Seneca.
• Ready Set Smoke, 4301 Genesee St. in Cheektowaga.

In July, the state closed:

• 615 N Main Convenience, 615 N. Main St. in Jamestown.
• Tiger Puff Smoke, 56 E. Main St. in Falconer.
• In & Out Express Mart, 102 E. 2nd St. in Dunkirk.
• Tree Stooges, 9548 Transit Road in East Amherst.
• Palm trees in buff, 1862 Colvin Blvd. in the town of Tonawanda.
• Green Genie, 958 East Ferry St.
• Sky Vapr Smoke Shop 4, 9390 Transit Road in East Amherst.

Haughney said he could not provide details about which locations would be targeted.

“As a general overview, I can say that when stores are close to each other, we try to visit them at the same time with several teams,” he said.

The task force is comprised of personnel from several state agencies, including investigative personnel from the OCM Enforcement Division, the state Department of Finance and Taxation’s Criminal Investigation Division, the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor and the State Liquor Authority. Personnel from these and several other agencies may be on site at any time.

“We identify ourselves, tell the store employees who we are and why we are there, and then we begin the inspection,” Haugney said.

Illegal cannabis products are seized and secured as evidence. Employees are given a list of products seized from the store, along with a notice of violation and a request to cease illegal operations. The location is then sealed and the locks are changed or a padlock is placed on the front door.

“Within a day or two, registered letters will be sent to the owner of the building informing him of the illegal activities in his building and our actions. The owner will also be informed that eviction proceedings must be initiated against the illegal operators within a certain period of time,” Haughney said.

Palm Trees in Buff remains closed and is sealed with a red and white sticker across the seam of the front door that reads: “Illegal Cannabis Seized.”

“Attention, this business is sealed by order of the Cannabis Control Board,” the sign reads. “Removal or defacement of this order will result in additional penalties unless lifted by the Office of Cannabis Management.”

But these efforts do not seem to have ruined Palm Trees in Buff.

Attached to the windows from the inside are two signs with black felt-tip pen writing on the back of brown paper bags. They contain a telephone number that customers are asked to use to send their orders via text message.

“Closed for a few days,” reads a sign on a paper bag.

Since Monday morning, orders for the delivery of cannabis flowers can also be accepted via the telephone number.

“There will always be people trying to circumvent the existing system,” Haughney said. “All I can say is that we are working with many other agencies to solve some of these problems.”

During inspections, it often happens that unlicensed workshops give each other tips.

“When we come into a community and do our inspections, these illegal shops often talk to each other,” Haughney said. “The operators talk to each other. They let each other know when we’re on site so they can try to close their doors before we get to them.”

However, that does not mean that the other unlicensed businesses are off the hook, he said.

“We keep coming back,” he said. “If they close their doors before we can do the inspection, they’ll be at the top of the list when we’re back in town.”

Since the OCM was granted authority to conduct regulatory inspections in 2023, the state has seized more than 25,000 pounds of illegal cannabis products valued at over $110 million.

Most enforcement actions took place in New York City.

The latest measures, which began in May, forced 779 stores to close in New York City. Across the rest of the state, the OCM closed 230 stores.

“We are finally, finally closing the illegal cannabis shops that have mocked us and our neighborhoods,” Governor Kathy Hochul said at a recent press conference.

There are 15 recreational dispensaries in Western New York State that are allowed to sell cannabis legally. The most recent recreational dispensary to open here is Green Philosophy 716, 101 Slade Ave. in West Seneca, owned by physician Dr. Jaclyn Schneider.

As of August 6, the state has collected $331.9 million from legal cannabis sales this year.

The state is fighting to eliminate the state’s illegal cannabis industry, which is accused of undercutting the state’s legal cannabis industry.

In May 2023, the OCM was given the authority to confiscate illegal cannabis products. In the spring, it was given the power to shut down and lock down unlicensed businesses that were selling cannabis illegally.

Hochul acknowledged that launching the legal cannabis market in the state has been “somewhat difficult,” but praised the OCM’s new leadership under Deputy Executive Director Felicia Reid.

“New reforms are underway to speed up the process, eliminate the licensing bottleneck and streamline the application process,” Hochul said. “This, along with increased enforcement, is critical – and also prevents the undermining of the legal market.”

This is just the beginning of efforts to eliminate the illegal market and strengthen the state’s legal market, she said.

“I’m excited,” Hochul said. “I know that a year from now, when we look back, we’ll have wiped out this industry. We’re going to continue the progress we’ve made.”