https://www.wwnytv.com/2024/08/08/state-2-watertown-smoke-shops-breaking-law-by-being-open/
WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) - The state says two Watertown smoke shops laundered money and are breaking the law by being back open.
Officials say the state will be back to shut them down.
A week ago, four Watertown smoke shops closed after the state said it seized illegal marijuana at the businesses.
Within days, two of the stores reopened - something the state says is against the law.
We visited Cali Smoke Shop in the plaza off State Street Wednesday evening.
When asked about the business being closed, an employee said, “The lawyers got it reopened.”
We also stopped at NYC Smoke Shop on Factory Street - also open for business.
“We got a good lawyer,” said the employee there.
The people at the two shops wouldn’t disclose the lawyers’ names.
The state Office of Cannabis Management says NYC Smoke Shop and Cali Smoke Shop are breaking the law by reopening. The OCM says it padlocked and sealed those businesses last Wednesday.
Now that authorities know they’ve reopened, they’ll be back to shut them down again.
7 News went back on Thursday to ask the people at the Cali and NYC smoke shops for comment.
When the Cali employee saw our camera, he shut the door, held it shut, then locked it.
At NYC, we were able to enter, but we were not welcome.
“Leave. Get out,” the employee told us.
The OCM says the businesses face “significant penalties.” It also says “money laundering activities” took place at both locations.
Officials say the landlords will be told to evict the tenants.
The owner of the property on Factory Street, Robert Ferris, said, “I’m looking into whatever needs to be done.”
The owner of the building at the plaza is listed as 130 Dundon LCC of Georgia. We were unable to find contact information for that company.
The OCM says landlords who don’t take action against tenants involved in illegal activity can also face significant penalties.
The two other smoke shops that were closed by the state last week remained closed.