New York Mayor Adams at Weed Fest: 'Let's Keep Lighting Up'

The New York City Cannabis Festival & Resource Fair debuted in Harlem on July 19 with an appearance by embattled Mayor Eric Adams, who's running for reelection as an independent candidate.

Adams told a small crowd at the event organized by Cannabis NYC and Cannademix that he'd closed 1,700 illegal pot shops and presided over the growth of the City's new legal marijuana market, which now boasts 175 stores. He also called for a decrease in cannabis taxes.

"Now that we've been able to fix the over-proliferation of the illegal shops, we need to do a real analysis to see what's in the way of these businesses from growing," Adams said from the stage. "I keep hearing about the high taxes. Albany needs to lower these taxes and stop over-regulating our legal cannabis businesses and allow for the businss and industry to grow."

The State's tax rate at retail is 13% on each sale. 

"It's our role and responsibilty to make sure that this industry grows," Adams added. "We want to reduce the hurdles you have to go through every day to build your businesses up. We're seeing legal sales topping $350 million. We want more of that money to be in your pockets, not in the government's pockets. We want to make sure that New York becomes the cannabis capitol of the globe. Let's keeping lighting up."

Adams was greeted by scattered boos. He supports Pres. Trump, whose Justice Department dropped federal bribery and fraud charges against him in exchange for free rein to push the White House's controversial immigation policies. Adams is currently polling third in the mayoral race behind Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo.

Mayor Eric Adams: "We want to make sure that New York becomes the cannabis capitol of the globe."

Following Adams' appearance, the festival, which took place in the plaza of the Adam Clayton Powell State Building at 125 St., featured three panels discussions, several comedians and MCs and an African drumming finale. About 15 community groups occupied tables covered with tents dotted in the plaza. A cannabis consumption area was created with police barricades.

The festival was an outgrowth of the annual NYC Cannabis Parade & Rally, which the City had teamed up with to produce the last two years. However, this year the City decided to move the event from its traditonal downtown location and change the date. Some were disappointed that a march didn't happen.

I helped run the Cannabis Parade the last few years and had the chance to inform the crowd of the changes in 2025 and the plan to bring the historic pot parade back in 2026:

"This is where it all started in New York and this is where it should be. There's room for both. It's a beautiful event today in Harlem. But we also need our event downtown. We're going to try to bring it back next year."

(Note: I was given a LIfetime Achievement Award.)

Also in attendence or on stage were: Manhattan Dep. Borough Pres. Keisha Sutton-James, OCM Dep. Acting Director Felicia A. B. Reid, Black Rose, Jessie Kush, Chenae Bullock, Shiest Bubz, Sharron Cannon, Tosin Ajayi, Roy Allen, Dana Beal, Tanya Osborne, Martha McDermott, Michael O'Malley, Kait Caridi, Pilar DeJesus and event producer Joh Alb.

 

MORE NYC MAYORAL LINKS

• Eric Adams Gives Colbert Rolling Papers (2021)

• Blazin' Bill De Blasio (2013)

• Michael Bloomberg: There's No Medical Marijuana (2013)