Weeding out dealers Cops to clear Wash. Square pot vendors
Cops plan to crack down on the drug dealers peddling pot amid families and tourists in Washington Square Park, a law-enforcement source said Monday — just hours after The Post exposed the open-air “green” market.
The NYPD had been largely turning a blind eye to the illegal activity because of the state’s recent legalization of weed but will begin patrolling the problem-plagued Greenwich Village space at the request of the city Parks Department, sources said Monday.
Ever since then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the law in March legalizing pot, dealers have been flooding into Manhattan, one source said. But sales are still banned because the state has yet to license any dispensaries.
“They’re coming from all over,” the source said. “The problem is the public thinks that [selling weed is] legal, so we’re getting inundated.”
During a meeting of the state Cannabis Control Board last week, Chair Tremaine Wright said officials were “hearing many examples of sales of marijuana products by individual vendors and retail locations.”
“There is no gray market in New York state. This conduct is not legal and must stop,” Wright said.
On Sunday, The Post found five groups of dealers openly selling weed in broad daylight amid the other vendors gathered around the fountain across from the park’s iconic arch.
A 31-year-old dealer named “Puff ’’ was manning one of three tables laden with pot items for sale Monday — accepting Apple Pay and Venmo for $70 bags of weed with former President Obama’s face on them.
“If [the cops] take us out of here tonight, there is going to be someone else tomorrow,’’ Puff said.
“All the tourists love us!’’ he added. “Why lock us up?!”
Amanda Sears — a 24-year-old local artist who bought two handrolled joints off Puff for $30 — agreed, “Everybody likes it like this.
“Who cares about the cops?!’’ she added. “Go stop some real crime.”
As Sears spoke, there were two cops from the Sixth Precinct stationed by the park’s arch just yards away, sitting in the front of a marked NYPD van. When asked by a Post reporter whether they were there to roust the dealers, the officers said no, they were only “securing the arch.’’
“Why do they come and hang out under the arch and watch us buy here if it’s not legal?’’ Sears said.
One NYPD source said police brass don’t want officers making arrests for drug dealing “unless you can observe it happening in your presence.”
Another source said that due to lenient bail laws, the crackdown wouldn’t result in any dealers getting immediately taken off the streets.
“It’s a summons,” the cop said. “You’re getting arrested, but you’re not going into the system. You’re not going before a judge.”