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