After years of illicit cannabis shops operating without licenses or taxes, making it difficult for legitimate businesses to thrive, New York is seeing some progress. [1] The Times Union reported that these unregulated and untaxed outlets have become less prevalent in upstate areas. This shift suggests that stricter enforcement by law enforcement agencies has led to fewer illegal operations. [2] MSN Money noted similar developments, stating that the presence of these unlicensed dealers is decreasing, which should benefit legal cannabis businesses. These changes are part of New York's broader strategy to regulate and tax the marijuana market more effectively.