New York Attorney General Letitia James has obtained a $6 million judgment against the owner of Big Chief Smoke Shop, an unlicensed cannabis store located in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. The store had been operating without a license for over a year and continued to do so despite orders from the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and law enforcement authorities to cease operations. The judgment includes nearly $5.9 million in penalties for unlicensed sales, $121,000 in disgorgement of illegal profits, and $44,000 in costs and attorney’s fees.
Attorney General James emphasized the importance of regulations in the cannabis industry, stating: "Rules and regulations, especially over the cannabis industry, are designed to protect New York consumers and keep neighborhoods safe." She added that Big Chief Smoke Shop "ignored repeated warnings" and continued operations unlawfully.
Senator Andrew Gounardes commented on the case by highlighting its impact on licensed retailers: “By repeatedly refusing to do the right thing, Big Chief did an immense disservice to our community in Bay Ridge and to all the licensed retailers operating in New York.”
New York City Councilmember Justin Brannan criticized Big Chief's operations: “Beyond endangering their customers and our community by selling untaxed, unregulated, and illegal products," he said they were also "bad neighbors who hosted illegal activity."
The judgment is based on various penalties including administrative fines for each day of unlicensed sales. New York’s Cannabis Law mandates that individuals involved in cannabis sales must be registered with the state’s Cannabis Control Board.
Big Chief Smoke Shop was first found selling cannabis without a license as early as November 2022. In August 2023, OCM investigators seized over 400 pounds of illicit cannabis during an inspection. Despite receiving orders to stop operations, further inspections revealed continued violations.
This action against Big Chief is part of ongoing efforts by Attorney General James to enforce compliance with state laws regarding cannabis sales. Past actions include securing judgments against other unlicensed stores across New York State.
Assistant Attorney General Deborah Diamant handled this case under supervision from Assistant Attorney General Michael Barbosa with support from Investigators Crystal Combs and Crystal John.