Queens civic leaders oppose legal pot shops until every local illicit one is closed

Frustrated civic leaders in central Queens are opposing any proposed licensed cannabis shops in their neighborhoods until authorities padlock all the illegal ones.

“The Board received numerous concerns from residents regarding the proliferation of illegal smoke shops already operating in our district and the negative impact these establishments have had on our community,” Sherry Algredo, chairwoman of Community Board 9 covering Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park and Woodhaven, told state regulators in a recent letter.

“Consequently, the Board will not support any new applications until these illegal operations are shut down,” Algredo wrote, according to the missive to New York’s Office of Cannabis Management.

Under the state law legalizing marijuana, applicants for cannabis licenses must notify and appear before the community board of the vicinity in which they seek to open shop.

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Though the boards’ recommendations are advisory to state regulators, they still wield influence.

The Post visited numerous suspected illegal cannabis locations last week after New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul held a victory lap press conference hailing a tougher state law making it easier to padlock unlicensed cannabis shops.

Enforcement under the new law has not taken place yet.

Many illicit pot shops immediately reopened after raids and temporary shutdown orders under the much-maligned prior rules.

“We have 32 illegal cannabis shops. We are not going to entertain any applications for legal cannabis shops until the unlicensed stores are shut down,” said CB 9 District Manager James McClelland to The Post.

City officials hinted that the promised crackdown on illegal spots could occur this week and include potential raids on dozens of locations.

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City Sheriff Anthony Miranda said cannabis cops raided “20 to 25” unlicensed pot shops last week under the prior rules — including the “Gelato” store in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, highlighted in last Sunday’s Post, where a defiant worker goaded authorities to shut them down.

“We picked it up,” Miranda said. “We’re not going to stop.

“We’re taking a methodical and systemic approach to cleaning up the illegal shops.”

City officials estimated that there are more than 2,000 illicit weed and smoke shops throughout the five boroughs, so they have much work to do.

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The city’s 59 community boards have been reviewing hundreds of people applying for state cannabis licenses — and many of the local leaders are wary of packing too many even legal pot stores in their neighborhoods, citing quality-of-life concerns not unlike those raised about the illegal stores.

Critics have complained about everything from the smell to fears that the products might attract kids.

Community Board 13 in southern Brooklyn, which includes Coney Island Brighton Beach, Coney Island, Gravesend, and Sea Gate, said it opposed all six current applications — mostly along Surf and Neptune avenues — mainly because of location.

Under the law, licensed cannabis dispensaries cannot be located within 500 feet of a school or 200 feet from a house of worship. Only one legal pot store can be located within a 1,000-foot radius.

Community Board 6 in The Bronx — covering Bathgate, Belmont, East Tremont, and West Farms — opposed all of its applications, most citing violations of the location-based rules.

The state cannabis control board is set to meet Friday over enforcing the new state law, which allows local authorities to padlock illegal stores pending final administrative appeals.

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