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This entry was published on 2023-05-12
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SECTION 496-C
Additional penalties
Tax (TAX) CHAPTER 60, ARTICLE 20-C
§ 496-c. Additional penalties. (a) In addition to any other civil or
criminal penalties that may apply, any person knowingly in possession of
or knowingly having control over any type of illicit cannabis, as
defined in section four hundred ninety-two of this article, after notice
and an opportunity for a hearing, shall be liable for a civil penalty in
an amount up to two times the amount of tax otherwise required to be
paid for such product for a first violation, and for a second or
subsequent violation within three years following a prior violation may
be liable for a civil penalty in an amount up to three times the amount
of tax otherwise required to be paid for such product.

(b) In addition to any other penalty authorized by this chapter or any
other law:

(1) Any person who knowingly possesses for sale, as such term is
defined in section four hundred ninety-two of this article, more than
five pounds but less than twelve pounds of illicit cannabis or more than
one pound but less than four pounds of illicit concentrated cannabis or
illicit cannabis edible product, after notice and an opportunity for a
hearing, may be liable for a civil penalty of up to twenty-five thousand
dollars for a first violation and may be liable for a civil penalty of
up to fifty thousand dollars for a second or subsequent violation within
three years following a prior violation.

(2) Any person who knowingly possesses for sale, as such term is
defined in section four hundred ninety-two of this article, over twelve
or more pounds of illicit cannabis or four or more pounds of illicit
concentrated cannabis or illicit cannabis edible product, after notice
and an opportunity for a hearing, may be liable for a civil penalty of
up to seventy-five thousand dollars for a first violation and may be
liable for a civil penalty of up to one hundred thousand dollars for a
second or subsequent violation within three years following a prior
violation.

(3) In addition to any penalty imposed pursuant to paragraphs one or
two of this subdivision, any person who knowingly possesses for sale, as
such term is defined in section four hundred ninety-two of this article,
more than five pounds of illicit cannabis, or more than one pound of
illicit concentrated cannabis or illicit cannabis edible product, in a
commercial location, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, may
be subject to an additional civil penalty of up to fifty thousand
dollars for a first violation and may be liable for a civil penalty of
up to one hundred thousand dollars for a second or subsequent violation
within three years following a prior violation. For purposes of this
paragraph, "commercial location" means real property or a vehicle held
out as open to the public or otherwise being used to conduct wholesale
or retail transactions, including a storage area in or adjacent to such
property or vehicle. Such term shall not include a residence or a
personally-owned vehicle located at such residence.

(c) Any distributor on whom tax is imposed under this article that
knowingly sells any adult-use cannabis product to any person who sells
at retail adult-use cannabis products who is not registered under
section four hundred ninety-four of this article, or whose registration
has been suspended or revoked, may, after notice and an opportunity for
a hearing, be liable for a civil penalty of up to fifty thousand dollars
for a first violation and up to one hundred thousand dollars for a
second or subsequent violation within three years following a prior
violation.

(d) No enforcement action taken under this section shall be construed
to limit any other criminal or civil liability of anyone in possession
of illicit cannabis.

(e) The penalties imposed by this section shall not apply to natural
persons lawfully in possession of adult-use cannabis or concentrated
cannabis for personal use as provided in article two hundred twenty-two
of the penal law.