Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the closure of an unlicensed cannabis shop that operated at 103-17 Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills, blocks away from a public park and a junior high school. More than 30 pounds of marijuana, with a street value of approximately $38,200, were confiscated, as well hundreds of packages of cannabis product, following a search of the premises.

District Attorney Katz said: “Our communities, particularly our children, must remain safe from the dangers posed by unlicensed, unregulated marijuana products in our neighborhoods. Recently, a shop situated two blocks from Yellowstone Park and Russell Sage Junior High School became a focal point of community concerns, prompting my office to carry out surveillance and enforcement efforts. These illicit dispensaries not only evade tax obligations but also jeopardize the livelihood of licensed sellers who adhere to safety and compliance standards. My office will continue to ensure public safety and compliance across the borough.”

According to the investigation, surveillance operations revealed the ongoing illegal sale of cannabis and related products through a roll-down steel gate at The Smoke House, at 103-17 Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills. In addition, at approximately 8 p.m. every night, the store’s gate opened and customers entered to purchase the illicit products that were prominently displayed throughout the interior.

A search of the store was conducted by members of the NYPD, Sheriff’s Office and DA Katz’s Detective Bureau on January 10 at approximately 8 p.m.

Officers recovered 31.8 pounds of marijuana flower, hundreds of packages containing cannabis gummies, flavored vapes, THC vapes, pre-rolls and edibles, as well as $4,713 in cash and brass knuckles.

This operation is part of the District Attorney’s ongoing effort to rid Queens of illegal cannabis dispensaries, whether operating out of trucks and vans or brick-and-mortar commercial locations.

Since November 2022, enforcement operations have resulted in the prosecution of 313 individuals for felony-related charges related to the sale and/or possession of cannabis or controlled substances in Queens.

To date, the following items – with an estimated combined value of more than $25 million – have been seized from more than 400 suspected illegal cannabis dispensaries in Queens County:

• More than 6,500 pounds of cannabis edibles, including gummies and candy bars
• More than 10,000 pounds of cannabis flower
• Hundreds of packages of edible psylocibin
• Over 17,000 cannabis vape “pens”

District Attorney Katz has also initiated eviction proceedings pursuant to the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law stores operating as illegal smoke shops.

A total of 272 shops in Queens County have been padlocked since July 2024 through the assistance of the New York City Sheriff’s Office and the NYPD.

The investigation into the unlicensed cannabis dispensary in Sunnyside was conducted by Assistant District Attorney Shanon LaCorte, Chief of the District Attorney’s Crime Strategies and Intelligence Bureau, with assistance from Senior Intelligence Analyst Victoria Filipe along with members of the Queens District Attorney’s Detective Bureau under the supervision of Sergeant David Moore, Lieutenant Joseph Oliver, Deputy Chief Janet Helgeson, Assistant Chief Daniel O’Brien, and under the overall supervision of the Chief Investigator of the Detective Bureau Robert LaPollo.