4. a. The Division of State Police, in consultation with local law enforcement agencies and the Cannabis Regulatory Commission, shall develop and implement an enforcement program to identify, investigate, and initiate enforcement action against any person or entity engaged in the unlicensed manufacture, distribution, or sale of purported cannabis or cannabis items , which activities violate N.J.S.2C:35-5 as the unlawful manufacturing, distribution, or dispensing of marijuana.
b. Upon the discovery of any violation by an unlicensed business, the New Jersey State Police or the local law enforcement agency, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General in the Department of Law and Public Safety, may take such necessary steps to close any business which violates the provisions of N.J.S.2C:35-5, seize any marijuana manufactured, distributed, or dispensed in violation of N.J.S.2C:35-5 by an unlicensed business, and refer any violation of N.J.S.2C:35-5 to the Attorney General or the prosecutor of the county in which the business is located for criminal prosecution.
c. An unlicensed business found to be in violation of N.J.S.2C:35-5 shall be deemed a public nuisance. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a municipality shall have the power to impose restrictions on the operation, including closure, of any business determined to constitute a public nuisance in accordance with this subsection.