NYC landlords facing $10K fines move to evict 75 illegal weed stores: ‘Finally opened their eyes’

New York City landlords — under threat of $10,000 fines — have moved to evict 75 retail tenants who were selling cannabis without a license, city officials said Tuesday.

Mayor Eric Adams’ task force on cannabis enforcement in November sent notices to 435 landlords, warning them they faced stiff fines because it was determined that their retail tenants were illegally peddling pot.

Officials said 91 property owners responded that they had evicted or forced out tenants at 15 locations and were proceeding to do so at 60 other buildings.

“The letters have been successful. We’ve gotten a positive response from landlords,” city Sheriff Anthony Miranda told The Post Tuesday.

“The landlords finally opened their eyes. Some of them didn’t know what was going on.”

The letter from the task force — which includes the sheriff’s office, NYPD and Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement — noted that landlords could be fined under the law for aiding and abetting illegal activity.

“The unlicensed sale of tobacco or cannabis products by a tenant may result in legal liability for the owner or landlord of the building where it is occurring. If you are the owner or landlord of this building, it is your responsibility to ensure that the premises are operated in accordance with applicable law,” it said.

Landlords were in negotiations with 16 other tenants fingered for operating as unlicensed cannabis stores, officials said Tuesday.

But there’s a way to go to weed out the illicit marijuana storefronts, authorities said.

“It’s the first letter of communication, so it’s a good first response. There’s still a lot more to be done,” Miranda said.

The sheriff noted that it’s quicker and easier for landlords to boot illegal pot shops than for city and state authorities, who first have to initiate legal proceedings to do so — such as the NYPD moving to shutter a shop under the nuisance abatement law.

Landlords have clauses in leases with commercial tenants that says they could be evicted for engaging in activities or violating moral conduct, Miranda pointed out.

“The landlords have the greatest leverage to get this done. You break the lease, you’re gone,” he said, adding, “We will assist the landlords in these efforts.”

The budding licensed cannabis industry has been hobbled by a slow and rocky rollout since marijuana was legalized for recreational sale in 2021.

There are currently 78 licensed cannabis outlets in all of New York state, 35 of which are in the city’s five boroughs.

But Adams and Sheriff Miranda estimate there are as many as 2,000 smoke shops illegally selling weed in the Big Apple alone.

Many illicit pot shops have operated with virtual impunity. 

Miranda said Gov. Kathy Hochul’s new proposals to give local officials more authority to padlock unlicensed shops will help curb the huge black market and aid the licensed cannabis stores, who pay taxes and follow strict regulations.