NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT INVOLVED IN LARGEST JOINT ENFORCEMENT SEIZURE IN AGENCY HISTORY, SEIZES MILLIONS IN ILLICIT CANNABIS PRODUCTS
Multiple processing and distribution locations targeted through coordinated enforcement effort led by the Greece Police Department
Partnership with Greece Police Department highlights importance of interagency collaboration
The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM)’s Enforcement and Investigations Division, in partnership with the Greece Police
Department, seized more than $17 Million dollars in illicit cannabis, cannabis products and processing equipment during a large-scale enforcement operation targeting multiple illegal cannabis businesses in Greece, New York.
The operation, resulting in the largest illicit cannabis seizure in OCM’s history, included the confiscation of hundreds of pounds of cannabis flower and thousands of pounds of cannabis products, including edibles and concentrates. The products were slated for
distribution throughout Central New York.
The months long investigation and joint action reflect OCM’s continued commitment to working with local law enforcement to protect consumers, disrupt illicit cannabis activity, and support New York’s regulated cannabis market.
“Illicit cannabis storefronts undermine the policies designed to make New York’s cannabis marketplace safe, fair, and equitable,” said Senator Jeremy Cooney. “We will not tolerate these operations in our community. I commend the Greece Police Department for their diligent work and appreciate the Office of Cannabis Management’s continued commitment to ensuring a market where only licensed businesses can
flourish.”
“Strong partnerships are essential to maintaining the integrity of New York’s regulated cannabis market,” said John Kagia, Executive Director of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management. “This operation reflects the coordinated work of state and local partners to remove illicit cannabis products from our communities, protect consumers, and support the licensed businesses that are following the law.”
“Illegal cannabis operators continue to put consumers at risk by selling untested and unregulated products outside New York’s legal market,” said Daniel Haughney, Director of Enforcement and Investigations for the New York State Office of Cannabis Management. “These items were not only marketed with potency well outside of the legal limit, but they were being processed in unsanitary and unsafe conditions with no oversight. We want to thank the Greece Police Department for the outstanding detective work they did on this case. We will continue to work with local law enforcement to identify illegal operations, remove illicit products from circulation, and
protect the health of New Yorkers across the state.”
“This investigation is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our detectives, who spent months building a complex case that dismantled a significant illegal cannabis distribution operation,” said Acting Chief of the Greece Police Department, Ryan Parina. “By removing millions of dollars in illegal products from our community, we are protecting the public, supporting legitimate businesses, and holding those who profit from illegal activity accountable. We are grateful for the partnership of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, whose collaboration enhanced our efforts throughout this investigation.”
OCM also continues to warn the public of the potential health risks of purchasing illicit cannabis. Products taken during this seizure included gummies labeled at 300 mg of THC each. The legal amount allowed in New York is 10 mg of THC per gummy. Investigators also found candy bars labeled at 10,000 mg of THC per bar, where the legal amount in New York is 100 mg of THC.
“These illegal products pose a risk to the health and safety of everyone in the community,” said Dr. Junella Chin, Chief Medical Officer of the Office of Cannabis Management. “These gummies and chocolate bars not only violate dosage restrictions but grossly violate the packaging regulations imposed on legal cannabis products. They look like candy, are not in child resistant packaging, are untested, and could cause serious health risks if ingested by children in the home or even pets. It is vital that we remove unregulated products from shelves to protect the public health of all New Yorkers.”
The investigation remains part of OCM’s ongoing efforts to enforce New York’s cannabis laws, protect consumers, and strengthen the regulated marketplace established under the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act. OCM continues to work with state and local partners to investigate illegal cannabis activity and remove illicit products from the marketplace. Members of the public are encouraged to report
suspected illicit cannabis activity through OCM’s online complaint form at https://cannabis.ny.gov/report-an-incident.