Today, New York City Mayor Eric Adams hosted what some are dubbing “a cartoonish display“, where he and members of the city’s police department oversaw the burning of four tons of marijuana products they deemed to be “illegal.”
NYC Mayor Eric Adams holding a bag of marijuana prior to its burning.
Despite recreational marijuana being legal in New York since 2021, the city burnt over 8,000 pounds of marijuana and marijuana products today, ranging from dried flower to edibles. The products were seized by over 1,000 marijuana stores throughout the city that were operating without a license.
“We’re going to destroy four tons of cannabis,” said Adams prior to the burning. “We have to stay on top of this because there are so many people who like to participate in this illegal endeavor. We’re going to destroy illegal cannabis in this city. It’s not going to go in our neighborhoods.”
Adams said “We are excited to burn this illegal product here today”.
Joe Price from Complex said “Instead of addressing pressing issues like lack of affordable housing, the rising death toll at Rikers Island, or other daily challenges New Yorkers face, Adams chose to criticize the colorful packaging of some cannabis products, claiming it makes them appealing to children”
The waste company Reworld assisted with the burning. During the event, a reporter asked if they were worried about marijuana smoke making its way into the community and getting people high.
In response, Mayor Adams said “No one would be getting high off of what we’re burning today.”
The burning is part of Adams'”Operation Padlock to Protect”, which is meant to crack down on unlicensed marijuana stores throughout New York City.
