Cortland ZBA Denies Smoke Shop License Appeal For All in One Smoke Shop on Clinton Ave.

Update: 9/23/2025 at 1pm: The City of Cortland Codes Office has announced the city has issued a Cease and Desist order for All in One store. According to the city, compliance is required within 5 days or they may face punitive action including a penalty up to $10,000.

During the City of Cortland Zoning Board of Appeals meeting Monday evening, the board unanimously denied an appeal for a smoke shop license to All in One Smoke Shop & Convenience located at 23 Clinton Ave. in the City of Cortland.

The denial of their appeal for a license was based on several factors provided to the board by both from the City of Cortland Codes Office and the Cortland Police Department. The market was previously raided by Cortland Police back in February 2023. During that raid, over $59,000 dollars of products were confiscated, including THC Vape Pens. Details on the raid can be found HERE.

Corporation Council for the City of Cortland, Randall Lewis, noted there were two instances, one selling cigarettes to someone under the age of 21, and another selling cannabis products to an undercover officer.

A representative speaking on behalf of the store owner noted that since the incident, they have not sold any THC products and the employee involved in the sale to the undercover officer was fired and they were not selling store products. Cortland Police Chief Guerrera disagreed, adding it was not personal possession the cashier was selling, but store merchandise that was located “outback” of the store itself.

The owner also argued that at the time the store was selling Delta-8 products, it was still legal to sell it within the state. However, Chief Guerrera added those products would only be allowed to be sold at the time under a license, which the owner did not possess.

In addition to the legal woes the business faces, Captain Roy Everett of the City of Codes Office added the parcel where All in One Smoke Shop is located at 23 Clinton Ave. is in violation of multiple regulations for the city smoke shop regulations. Those include maximum distances to a school, another facility that has a smoke shop license, and youth oriented facilities. The products also sold in the store (glass and rolling papers) are only allowed in a GB-1 (General Business) District, the store is located in a CB District (Central Business). Everett noted the business is technically grandfathered in, but the board should consider the other violations committed.

After considering all the factors, the board unanimously decided to deny the appeal for a smoke shop license. Corporation Council Lewis added with the denial, it is now done and over with and no coming back for receiving the license. Lewis continued on to say all the licenses allotted by the city have been permitted and one can only become available if two current license holders give up their licenses.