9 Orange County smoke shops fined for illegal cannabis sale

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A coordinated smoke shop sweep in Orange County this week resulted in several store shutdowns, the seizure of illegal cannabis products and hefty fines, according to officials. One of the locations was the Tobacco House on Brookside Avenue in Chester. Law enforcement was spotted there on Tuesday in viewer video given to News 12. County officials say the store was issued a $150,000 fine for allegedly selling unlicensed cannabis products in vape form and that 3,000 boxes of flavored vapes were seized. Officials say eight other stores in Orange County were also involved in the crackdown, including an unnamed location on Snoop Street in Monroe and Top Shelf Smoke on Main St. in Highland Falls. Officials say both of those stores were shut down and padlocked the by the New York state Office of Cannabis Management. The coordinated enforcement action was carried out by multiple local and state agencies to thwart what officials say is the “unlawful distribution and sale of unlicensed cannabis products and illegal narcotics in retail establishments.” “There is nothing more valuable than our children and keeping them out of harm’s way,” says Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus. Officials say the items that were sold and seized ranged from cannabis and edibles, including gummies, chocolate bars and flavored vapes. The raids were carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday. Other stores fined and/or with products seized are listed by authorities as West Point Smoke in Highland Falls, Beer World in Goshen, Mobil Gas Station in Goshen, Kosmic Korner in Goshen, 94 Smokeshop & Snacks in Salisbury Mills and Native Organics in Monroe. "