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Tuesday, November 5, 2024

George West fined $9.5 million for unlicensed cannabis sales

State AG
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Attorney General Letitia James | Ballotpedia

New York Attorney General Letitia James has secured a $9.5 million judgment against George West, the owner of an unlicensed cannabis dispensary in Ontario County. The judgment follows West's non-compliance with a June 2023 order from the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) to cease operations without a license. Jaydega 7.0, the dispensary owned by West, was shut down by judicial order in November 2023.

Attorney General James stated, "The owner of Jaydega 7.0 refused to follow the law and ignored repeated warnings to stop selling cannabis without a license." She added that George West must pay $9.5 million for his violations and emphasized the importance of adherence to rules and regulations by all businesses in New York.

Under New York’s Cannabis Law, anyone involved in the cultivation, processing, or sale of cannabis products must be licensed by the New York State Cannabis Control Board. The law imposes daily penalties for unlicensed sales and additional fines if operations continue after an order to cease is issued. West's penalties include disgorgement of illegal profits and revenue-based civil penalties.

West operated his store on Main Street in Canandaigua since at least September 2022. In June 2023, OCM inspected Jaydega 7.0, confirming unlicensed sales and seizing over 200 pounds of cannabis products. Despite receiving orders to halt operations and disclose financial records, West continued selling until a court-mandated closure in November 2023.

Unlicensed cannabis products are not lab-tested or taxed, posing potential safety risks. The OAG can initiate proceedings against those violating Cannabis Law upon OCM's request.

Attorney General James expressed gratitude towards OCM for their cooperation in this case.

Previously, Attorney General James obtained a $15.2 million judgment against another unlicensed operation in May 2024 and collaborated with Governor Hochul to close an unauthorized store in Brooklyn in December 2023.

This case was managed by Assistant Attorneys General Soo-young Chang and Joel J. Terragnoli under Christopher Boyd's supervision at the Buffalo Regional Office.

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