Illegal recreational marijuana shops are becoming all too common in New York City.
Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks says the number of illegal weed selling smoke shops has ballooned up to an estimated 17-hundred city wide.
"And if you have not seen them, you just have to open up your eyes because everyday it seems like more and more are opening up."
Chief Michael Lepetri says there's been more than 100 smoke shop connected robberies this year.
"In some of these stores comes a cash business that individuals are targeting"
Governor Kathy Hochul just proposed legislation that would allow the state to shut illegal dispensaries and give police more tools to go after illegal operators.