Philadelphia City Council Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson (At-Large) introduced two bills building on her work to address nuisance businesses, particularly illegal smoke shops, in the City of Philadelphia. The proposed legislation would establish accountability for commercial landlords who rent to illegal smoke shops and add a new section to the Philadelphia Code that addresses the sale of unsafe and unregulated intoxicating substances, including hemp-derived products and kratom.
“For years, I have been focused on addressing quality-of-life issues in ways that deliver real and lasting results for Philadelphia residents,” said Majority Leader Gilmore Richardson. “Illegal and unregulated smoke shops are doing real harm in our communities: fueling crime, operating without community approval, and exposing our young people to dangerous products. While we have made important progress in cracking down on these businesses, our work is far from complete. This legislation strengthens enforcement and ensures we are using every available tool to make our communities safer and create the conditions for them to thrive.”
The Intoxicating Substances Bill would address the sale of unsafe or unregulated products, such as Delta-8 and Kratom. The legislation would add a new section to the Philadelphia Code to create definitions for intoxicating substances, hemp-derived products, and kratom; clarify the City’s current rule that products with intoxicating substances are considered adulterated and cannot be sold until they are considered safe by the FDA; and establish an intoxicating substance retailer license, limiting where the FDA-approved products can be sold and ensuring the City knows who is selling them. It also sets a 21 and over age limit for sales.
Modeled after a similar enforcement mechanism used in New York City, the Illegal Smoke Shop Accountability Bill would add a new section to the Philadelphia Code authorizing enforcement action against commercial landlords who knowingly allow illegal smoke shops to operate in their properties. Under the legislation, the City would provide notice to the landlord when a business is cited for unpermitted tobacco retailing. If the illegal sales continue and the landlord has not taken action to stop them, the City would be authorized to pursue enforcement against the property owner as well as the business owner.
“I applaud Councilmember Gilmore Richardson for taking this very necessary step to hold landlords accountable. Too often they are absent, while ignoring the illegal actions of their tenants. Landlords should be responsible for the activity taking place on their properties if we are going to make real progress in stopping dangerous behavior,” said Cait Allen, President, Queen Village Neighbors Association.
“This legislation brings accountability to landlords who enable illegal smoke shop operations in our neighborhoods. Good landlords who care about their neighbors should support this bill,” said Elaine Petrossian, a community organizer.
The bills will be available to view through City Council’s Legislative Information Center in the coming days and can be shared with members of the press upon request.
Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson is the youngest person to be elected majority leader and the youngest Black woman ever elected to Philadelphia City Council. As an at-large councilmember, she has championed issues such as advancing workforce development opportunities, protecting Philadelphia’s fiscal stability, uplifting working parents, addressing quality of life issues, and ensuring environmental justice and climate resiliency. Stay updated at PHLCouncil.com, on Facebook & Instagram @CouncilmemberKGR and on Twitter @CouncilwomanKGR.
