Give the NYPD the power NOW to close all illegal weed shops

Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Queens) has hit the ground running with a bill to let the NYPD and others shutter illegal pot shops across the Empire State.

Gov. Hochul and the Legislature, make this the law now.

And if the Legislature delays, then Hochul should deputize the NYPD and the Office of the Sheriff as state enforcement representatives to shut down the illegal vendors.

It’s insane enough that the Legislature, in legalizing pot, also explicitly said only state officials could shut down unlicensed vendors.

And that Hochul has so far declined to end-run that limit by using her executive powers to deputize enforcement.

Action is needed.