EAST HAVEN — In the biggest civil penalty yet for illegal cannabis sales, the state Office of the Attorney General says it secured a nearly $5 million court judgment against an East Haven smoke shop that repeatedly flouted orders to stop illegally selling marijuana products.
The $4.93 million judgment against Planet Zaza and its owner, Mohamed Alraishani, follows “persistent illegal cannabis sales in spite of a court order and repeated law enforcement visits,” the office said in a news release Thursday. The record penalty underscores “the egregious nature of Planet Zaza’s misconduct,” it said.
“The State of Connecticut is not playing around,” Attorney General William Tong said. “Legal cannabis is not a free-for-all. If you are unlicensed, if you sell untested, unregulated cannabis, we will find you and we will hold you accountable.”
Bryan T. Cafferelli, commissioner of the state Department of Consumer Protection, said, “Adults who choose to consume cannabis are reminded to make purchases through the regulated market, and practice safe consumption and storage. Thank you, as always, to our partners at the Office of the Attorney General and the East Haven Police Department for their collaboration and commitment to keeping our communities safe.”
