Tim Scoma is chief operating officer of Lifted Dispensary in Jamestown, Chautauqua County, celebrating one year in business. 

It takes over the spot formerly ocupied by Lifted’s parent, Patient’s Pharmacy, still in business in Jamestown, serving the community since 2012.

“It’s been a really fun journey,” said Scoma. “This is a brand new industry. It felt like it was a good investment.”

Lifted is licensed by New York state, which allows Scoma to purchase cannabis and related products from other licensed processors, distributors and cultivators that are tested and sold legally to customers 21 and older.

He’s also subject to state inspections and has had to make a few modifications to remain compliant with the state Office of Cannabis Management, or OCM.

“Having to abide by regulations is the top of the list. If I don’t follow the rules just like any other place, you get your license taken away. To get this place up and running, it took everything that we had,” said Scoma.

As Scoma works to legally grow his business, there are others across the state operating illegal and often unsanitary shops.

“The state will eventually catch up to these people who are doing what they shouldn’t be doing,” said Scoma.

OCM leaders were given expanded authority under new padlock laws passed in last year’s state budget.

The measure allows OCM to immediately lock up illegal, unlicensed shops, as well as hold building owners or landlords accountable for renting space used for an illegal dispensary, and force them to evict the tenant.

“[It’s] been a game-changer for us,” said Daniel Haughney, director of enforcement and investigations, OCM. “Being able to do that immediately, it shows the community that we’re not going to kind of sit back while these illicit stores operate. When we’re there, we’re looking to shutter them down.”

The padlock laws also apply to law enforcement and local municipalities, that have passed local ordinances agreeing to participate in the process.

New York State Sheriff’s Association President James Quattrone, who serves Chautauqua County, says while the law has made it easier in areas downstate where there’s been more of an uptick in the number of illegal dispensaries, not every department has the manpower to shut them down.

“It’s extremely frustrating,” said Quattrone. “Most agencies are struggling just to keep their minimum staffing, and so to encounter these illegal dispensaries, and close them down to investigate them, oftentimes with those come lengthy investigations.”

Quattrone says enforcing illegal use of cannabis on the road isn’t any easier, as departments have seen an increase in the number of impaired by drug arrests, namely from cannabis.

He says drivers who get pulled over are put through a series of standard field sobriety tests, similar to alcohol, though unlike other states, the results need to be exact.

“And that’s including cannabis. We have to be able to prove what the specific drug is rather than just proving that somebody’s impaired,” said Quattrone.

Scoma also advising his customers to use responsibly and keep out of the reach of children.

“Don’t consume while you’re driving,” he said. “We can just recommend the best use of cannabis and then hope that, you know, they abide.”