NYC Unlicensed Cannabis Shops Rarely Checked IDs and Sold Near Schools
A secret shopper study of 37 NYC cannabis retailers found that 100% of licensed shops verified age before entry, compared to just 10% of unlicensed shops, which also sold youth-appealing products like candy and energy drinks.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Licensed retailers required age verification before store entry (100% vs 10%) and before purchase (100% vs 48%). Unlicensed shops displayed cartoon signage (57% vs 0%) and sold candy (53%), soda (57%), and energy drinks (48%). Both types were often near schools (75-76%). Health warnings were rare across both types (8-10%).
Key Numbers
37 retailers observed. Age verification before entry: 100% licensed vs 10% unlicensed. Before purchase: 100% vs 48%. Cartoon signage: 57% unlicensed vs 0% licensed. Near schools: 75-76% for both. Health warnings displayed: 8-10% for both.
How They Did This
Secret shopper study observing 37 dispensaries and smoke shops (5 licensed medical, 7 licensed recreational, 10 unlicensed, 15 smoke shops) randomly selected from 840 outlets across NYC in November-December 2023. Audited age verification and business practices.
Why This Research Matters
Youth access to cannabis is a primary concern of legalization. This study provides direct evidence that unlicensed retailers, which outnumber licensed ones in NYC, are failing to prevent youth access through lack of age verification and youth-oriented marketing.
The Bigger Picture
NYC's struggle with unlicensed cannabis retailers is not unique. Many legal states face similar challenges. The stark difference in age verification between licensed and unlicensed shops underscores why enforcement matters for youth protection.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small sample in one city. Snapshot during early legalization. Secret shopper methodology captures one visit, which may not represent typical practices. Could not assess actual sales to minors.
Questions This Raises
- ?What enforcement strategies would most effectively reduce unlicensed retailers?
- ?How do youth perceive and access these different retailer types?
- ?Would proximity-to-school restrictions reduce youth access?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 10% of unlicensed shops verified age before entry vs 100% of licensed
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: direct observational data from a randomly selected sample, but small sample size and single-city focus
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025 (Pediatrics) using November-December 2023 NYC data
- Original Title:
- Cannabis Access by Retailer Type in New York.
- Published In:
- Pediatrics, 155(3) (2025)
- Authors:
- Becker, Timothy D(3), Olfson, Mark(17), Menzi, Peter J(2), Levin, Frances R, Hasin, Deborah S, Nuckolls, Colin, Sultan, Ryan S
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06031
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How many unlicensed cannabis shops are in NYC?
The study sampled from 840 known outlets across NYC, with unlicensed retailers outnumbering licensed ones. This reflects the challenge many cities face in establishing a regulated market while the unlicensed market continues to operate.
Are cannabis shops near schools?
Yes. About 75-76% of both licensed and unlicensed retailers were near schools. This was consistent regardless of licensing status, suggesting that proximity restrictions may need strengthening for all retailer types.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06031APA
Becker, Timothy D; Olfson, Mark; Menzi, Peter J; Levin, Frances R; Hasin, Deborah S; Nuckolls, Colin; Sultan, Ryan S. (2025). Cannabis Access by Retailer Type in New York.. Pediatrics, 155(3). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2024-068669
MLA
Becker, Timothy D, et al. "Cannabis Access by Retailer Type in New York.." Pediatrics, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2024-068669
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis Access by Retailer Type in New York." RTHC-06031. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/becker-2025-cannabis-access-by-retailer
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.