The Director of Connecticut’s Drug Control Division has resigned following intensified scrutiny over a surprise inspection of a cannabis cultivator’s facility—an inspection whose timing has drawn criticism and prompted calls for greater accountability within the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP).
Background and Inspection
In mid-March, just one day after Rino Ferrarese, CEO of Affinity Grow, delivered testimony before the legislature’s General Law Committee expressing concerns about the testing standards for cannabis products, agents from DCP conducted an unannounced inspection of Affinity Grow’s cultivation facility in Portland.
Although the agents found the facility to be in compliance with Connecticut’s existing testing requirements, the unusual timing of the visit drew attention.
Response and Fallout
The inspection raised questions among legislators and industry stakeholders over whether it represented retaliation for Ferrarese’s legislative testimony. State Representative Roland Lemar, among others, emphasized the need for legislators and regulators to maintain a safe environment for testimony and criticism without fear of reprisal.
In response, DCP Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli publicly apologized to cannabis businesses, including Affinity Grow, acknowledging that the inspection’s timing had fostered concern.
Resignation and Next Steps
Following an internal investigation into the matter, the Director in question—Roderick Marriott—has stepped down. The investigation tied back to the surprise inspection and examined whether procedures were followed appropriately.
As part of structural changes already underway within DCP, a dedicated cannabis division had been established earlier in the year to oversee both medical and recreational cannabis matters. In April, Lila McKinley, a long-time DCP employee, was appointed as its director.
State officials indicate that the separation of duties—placing cannabis oversight in its own division—was a necessary step to ensure clarity, accountability, and fairness in regulatory practice. Marriott will reportedly continue to oversee non-cannabis drug control affairs within the department.
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