New York, New York - NY state began cracking down on unlicensed weed dealers by sending out cease and desist letters this week.

Recreational use of marijuana for adults became legal in the state last April, but how the state will handle cannabis sales has been left in limbo. Some retailers have jumped into the sales game anyway, much to the ire of state authorities.

The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), an agency created to oversee legalization, including sales, sent out a press release Thursday regarding cease and desist letters that were issued to 52 "illicit cannabis stores."

The letters also included a warning, stating that "failure to cease this activity puts your ability to obtain a license in the legal cannabis market at substantial risk."

Only 17 of those businesses are located in NYC, one of which being Weed World, situated in the heart of Times Square.

"New York is building the most equitable cannabis industry in the nation, one that prioritizes those communities most harmed under cannabis prohibition," said Damian Fagon, Chief Equity Officer at OCM.

"Stores selling unregulated cannabis products without licenses undercut those efforts," Fagon added. "Plain and simple."