Illegal marijuana shop raided in Brooklyn

Illegal weed shop raided in Brooklyn

The New York City Sheriff’s Department arrested two people and seized bags of marijuana as evidence after a raid against a shop illegally selling marijuana in Brooklyn.

NEW YORK – The NYC Sheriff's Department has carried out a raid on a Brooklyn smoke shop accused of illegally selling marijuana.

FOX 5 NY visited the shop less than a month ago, where workers said they had nothing to hide. 

Big Chief, which was located on 4th Avenue and 74th Street in Bay Ridge, was raided by the New York City Sheriff's Department, which made two arrests and seized boxes and bags of evidence. Unlicensed shops openly selling marijuana in NYC

Big Chief in Brooklyn is one of many stores and dispensaries in New York City selling cannabis products without a license. The owners say they have applied for one and are waiting to hear. The state’s Office of Cannabis Management said these businesses are breaking the law.

"This is a danger to the community," said New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda. "When you start selling these products, selling around children and others, nobody wants that in their neighborhood."

A year ago, New York decriminalized recreational marijuana and has been setting up the rules for licenses to be issued for retail sales, but in that time, despite warnings, weed shops like Big Chief have popped up all over the city, jumping the gun on retail sales. 

RELATED: Judge halts pot dispensary licenses in parts of New York

Brooklyn City Council member Justin Brennan said that while he supports legalization, shops like Big Chief that are selling untested and illegal products without a license need to be shut down. 

Last month, the state's Office of Cannabis Management told FOX 5 NY that smoke shops and weed shops who jump the gun on retail sales of marijuana will not get licenses.