DANBURY — Two people were arrested last week after several city smoke shops were found with dozens of pounds of marijuana ready for sale, officials said.
Officers working with multiple state agencies took enforcement action on four local vape shops on March 27, Danbury Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour said in a news release Thursday
Ridenhour said the goal of the operation was enforcing vape shop regulations concerning the underage sale of tobacco products, the sale of CBD products with THC concentrations beyond allowed levels and the outright sale of THC products such as oil, flower and edibles. He said four establishments — Star Rose, The Smoke Lab, CT Smoke House and Cloud House — were tested for compliance.
The March 27 compliance checks came after police received complaints from citizens, primarily parents, about the sales of THC products and vapes to children, Ridenhour said. In the past, he said, such checks have resulted in the seizure of pounds of marijuana and other illicit products valued in the thousands of dollars.
While all four businesses were found with marijuana, two allegedly made illegal sales of marijuana, police said.
According to Ridenhour, a police investigation determined that The Smoke Lab was selling marijuana to some of their customers, and so authorities were able to get a search warrant for the Main Street business. He said Smoke Lab “made an illegal sale of marijuana and sold tobacco products to an underage person,” and was found to have about 21 pounds of illicit THC products “including bud, oil, and edibles.” He said the store also had CBD products with THC concentrations beyond allowed level.
“Evidence discovered at the shop, by definition, revealed that the shop was operating as a drug factory, where the illicit product was being weighed, processed, and
packaged for sale,” he said in the release.
In that case, police arrested Brianna Rosario, 24, of Danbury, on charges of sale of a narcotic substance, possession with intent to sell more than one kilogram of cannabis, and operating a drug factory.
Ridenhour said Star Rose, on Mill Ridge Road, made an illegal sale of marijuana on the morning of the compliance check and was found to have more than 30 pounds of THC products as well as CBD products with high THC levels. He said the business was operating as a drug factory, as it was found to have equipment for THC products to be weighed, processed and packaged for sale.
In that case, police arrested Ahmed Himed, 21, of Danbury on charges of sale of a narcotic substance, possession with intent to sell more than one kilogram of cannabis, and operating a drug factory.
Cloud House on Newtown Road also failed the compliance check and sold tobacco to an underage person, Ridenhour said, adding the shop was found to have more than 35 pounds of THC products and illegally potent CBD products.
Smoke House also made an illegal sale of marijuana and tobacco to an underage person, Ridenhour said. He said the Mill Plain Road business was found to have about 26 pounds worth of THC products, as well as illegal CBD products.
“It should be noted that enforcement action has previously been taken against Star Rose and Cloud House,” according to Ridenhour, who said the investigation into the four businesses is ongoing.
H/T: NewsTimes
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