Cannabis Retail Sale Complaint

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Call 911

Call 911 to report:

  • A medical or health-related emergency, or a person in need of medical assistance.
  • The sale of cannabis (marijuana) at an outside location.
  • The use of cannabis by a minor under 21.
  • The sale of cannabis to a minor under 21 in progress.

A license is required to cultivate cannabis or sell cannabis through a retail dispensary.

You can submit a complaint to the Office of the Sheriff about cannabis sales and products.

The sheriff will investigate:

  • Concerns about a business that sells cannabis products, such as:
    • Unlicensed business locations, including:
      • Businesses operating within 500 feet and on the same block of any building that is exclusively used as a school
      • Businesses operating within 200 feet and on the same block of a house of worship
    • Underage Sales: Sale of cannabis to a minor under 21 that occurred in the past
    • Unlicensed dispensaries: Businesses selling cannabis without a license
    • Suspicious activity: Any activity related to cannabis being sold from a:
      • Business location
      • Van or truck that is labeled as selling cannabis
  • Concerns about a cannabis product, such as:
    • Improper product labeling or packaging: Products with misleading information or packaging that may pose safety risks

You can report your concerns anonymously by email or phone: 
 
By Email

Send your message to smokeshopcomplaints@sheriff.nyc.gov.

By Phone

Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) to report the problem.

What Happens Next

The Sheriff’s Office will review your complaint and take appropriate action, which may include:

  • Investigating the situation
  • Issuing warnings, citations, and fines to violators
  • Conducting an inspection
  • Padlocking illegal shops

As the owner of a sealed property, you can request an order to vacate the Immediate Order of Closure issued against your property.

You can submit your request by email to CEUOATH@nypd.org.

In your email, please state:

  • The address of the sealed property
  • Identify yourself as the property owner

You will be provided with an affidavit that must be completed and notarized by the owner and, if applicable, every co-owner of the property.

If you are represented by an attorney in this matter, please state the name in your email. You will be provided with an affidavit that must be completed by your attorney.

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