Elmira to start padlocking illegal cannabis shops by end of summer

ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – More than two months ago, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced changes that allow local authorities to padlock unlicensed cannabis shops . Today Mayor Dan Mandell told 18 News it could be another two months before police start shutting down so-called “sticker shops in Elmira.

“Originally when we first talked, we wanted to get on it as soon as possible and do it within a month. But obviously, that’s not going to happen,” Mayor Mandell said. “There’s more to writing this law than what I thought there would be. We’re working with the state. Right now, our city attorney is working on the drafting of legislation that makes sure it meets the state’s parameters on what we can do here in the city. Once we get that law written up, it’s a couple of phases.”

“First of all, we’re going to have to have a vote to take it to a public hearing. We’re going to set up a public hearing on the new law, the new ordinance. Then there would be a third meeting where we would actually pass the ordinance. So, it’s a ways down the pike right now. But we can still work with Office of Cannabis Management. We reached out to them. We’ll see if they come back into town. I know they’re very short staffed. We do have a couple that we know they’re still operating in the city, but we’re hoping to get that ordinance done in the very near future.”

“Can we estimate what the timeline looks like?” asked 18 News reporter Nick Dubina. “End of summer?

“Yeah, it would be end of summer,” Mayor Mandell said. “Once we get it passed we can start padlocking them, so it’s a step in the right direction obviously. But again, we have to work with the state. They’ve given us the parameters and what we have to write the law upon.”

“On the legal said, can you tell us the number of folks who are trying to open a legal cannabis dispensary in the City of Elmira?” asked Dubina.

“Quite a few of them,” the Mayor said. “I’d say between six to eight applications that I’ve seen come across my desk and have been sent to the state. So, there’s been several.

“When can folks expect to see the first legal dispensary open in the city? asked Dubina.

“That’s a great question. That’s totally up to the state,” Mandell said. “I know a couple of them have passed through the first process of being pre-approved. They have to go through the second process, whatever that entails with the state. So, we know the state totally screwed this up from the initial legalization part of this. But hopefully it’ll happen soon because we do get a significant amount of revenue from the sale.”

We also asked Mayor Mandell about a stop work order issued by city code enforcement at a new business called “Tokz Exotics” on College Avenue . A commercial leasing company listed on the building said it had “no comment” on the status of the business or what it would be selling.

“Are you aware of this business?” asked Dubina.

“I really am not aware of the business, but who knows what could be going in there” the Mayor said. “If it’s illegal dispensary, that could be a possibility, because we have had several individuals apply for licenses in the city of Elmira. So that could be what it is. If again, like you, I don’t know. I highly doubt it’s going to be a sticker store because we’re starting to clamp down on those. So we’ll have to wait and see.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.