A WNY Business Owner Has Been Charged In Criminal Cannabis Case

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced that a 29-year-old business owner has been charged criminally for possession of cannabis. The man, who is from Lancaster, was arraigned on Monday, March 14, 2022, before Cheektowaga Town Court Justice David M. Stevens. He was charged with felonies - of one count each of Possession Cannabis in the First Degree, Criminal Possession of Cannabis in the Second Degree, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree. David A. Zale allegedly had 15 pounds of marijuana in his possession, along with two pounds of concentrated cannabis. Police made the discovery at his business, which is located on French Road in Cheektowaga. Officers also discovered products that allegedly had fake medical marijuana labels on them.

In addition to the cannabis charges, Zale was arraigned on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge - Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree. A bench warrant had been issued for him after he didn't show up for court. The charge stems from an incident that took place on July 30, 2021, just after 1:30 am. He allegedly broke a flower pot at the victim's home during a domestic dispute.

Zale is due back in court on Friday, May 6, 2022, at 9:30 am. If he is convicted of all of the charges against him, he could spend up to 7 years in prison. He has been released on his own recognizance.

While adult-use marijuana is legal in New York State, there are very strict regulations about how much cannabis you can have, growing it, and businesses 'gifting' customers with weed.