ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Six stores in Rochester had cannabis products seized during inspections by the Office of Cannabis Management Tuesday.
News 8 got an exclusive inside look at three of these inspections — at Flavors Smoke Shop on Goodman, Top Smoke Shop on Culver, and Lyell Smoke Shop — as they seized thousands of items, at an estimated $500,000 worth of product.
Daniel Haughney is the Director of Enforcement for OCM, and was leading the charge at those inspections Tuesday.
He says OCM can conduct a regulatory inspection against a business that is selling –
or believe to be selling cannabis products.
“Typically when we go in, word spreads quickly that we’re operating in a specific area, so we like to get those locations that are close in proximity, at the same time so they can’t close and lock the doors before we get there,” Haughney said as to why they hit multiple places in Rochester today.
When OCM enters, they verify if an owner has a license. If the product in the store is deemed to be illicit, it’s cataloged and seized. Haughney says planning ahead can range from days to months, and start from tips from OCM’s site, municipalities, investigators, or other law enforcement.