Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg is finally doing something worthwhile.
The polarizing DA has started a crackdown on illegal marijuana shops in New York City, reported The Buffalo News.
One shop owner has already felt his wrath, getting hit with a $400,000 fine, reported Fox News.
Bust Them
The first target of Bragg's little sting operation is business owner Rami Alzandani.
Alzandani was reportedly selling cannabis products without the proper authorization, which would make him a drug dealer.
Bragg hit Alzandani with a $400,000 fine, but he is declining to prosecute the store owner.
That encompasses $103,000 in restitution to the state Department of Tax and Finance and must also forfeit an additional $300,000 in illegal proceeds.
Bragg stated that they agreed to a non-prosecution agreement, where he will no longer sell cannabis products as well as the fine mentioned above.
New York's Office of Cannabis Management has issued about 250 licenses to sell cannabis products, but anyone who has walked around New York knows there are probably four times that many stores operating.
Last month alone, 33 stores were shut down and more than $11 million in product was seized by officials throughout New York.
The problem in New York is that the people that were issued the licenses, for the most part, have not opened up their shops yet, which has allowed the illegal industry to thrive.
According to Bragg, public safety is at risk "when there is such a huge proliferation of unlicensed and unregulated storefronts selling cannabis products that have not been properly inspected."
I still don't understand why every store owner caught selling is not made an example of and sent to jail.
