Bronx Eviction Uncovers Illegal Cannabis Grow House With 30 Plants

A city marshal executing an eviction at an apartment on Marion Avenue in the Fordham section of the Bronx on Monday uncovered a suspected illegal cannabis grow house containing 30 marijuana plants and associated equipment. The FDNY responded with hazardous materials trucks. Neighbours said they had complained for months about an overpowering odour from the unit; one resident said the smell made her eyes and throat itch and was particularly dangerous for residents with asthma. Another said it was not safe for the building. The superintendent said the tenants had fallen behind on rent. Multiple men had been observed entering and leaving the apartment, but no arrests had been made as of Monday. The city's Office of the Sheriff is leading the investigation. The discovery highlights ongoing challenges around New York City's unregulated cannabis market years after the state legalised recreational marijuana but before sufficient licensed retail came online.