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Hundreds of illegal weed shops shut in NYC

Courts in Kansas City, Mo., can impose a maximum fine of $25 for possession of up to 35 grams of marijuana, after voters embraced a ballot initiative Tuesday. Here, three grams of marijuana is displayed.
Oliver Contreras/For The Washington Post via Getty Images
Courts in Kansas City, Mo., can impose a maximum fine of $25 for possession of up to 35 grams of marijuana, after voters embraced a ballot initiative Tuesday. Here, three grams of marijuana is displayed.

Hundreds of illegal marijuana shops in New York City have been shut.

Many unlicensed weeds shops sprouted up following the legalization of recreational marijuana but it was only a few months ago state officials enacted new enforcement powers to get them closed. Since early May, a task force has shut 779 of these illegal shops in the city. Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson says it’s been a big problem there.

“We cannot allow our children to be exposed to illegal cannabis in this way, untested, unregulated and not monitored in a standardized way.”

Authorities say they will make sure the ones shut will stay closed and that will allow the legal weed shops to thrive.