2 New London County Retailers Sold Cannabis Illegally: AG

NEW LONDON COUNTY, CT — The state has filed enforcement actions against seven retailers and wholesalers of illicit cannabis products, including two in New London County.

Greenleaf Farms in New London and Smoker’s Corner in Norwich are among those cited for violations.

Greenleaf Farms, a CBD retailer, holds no license to sell cannabis products in Connecticut, according to Attorney General William Tong's statement.

"Despite that, investigators from both the Department of Consumer Protection and Office of the Attorney General on multiple visits discovered numerous illegal high-THC products for sale, including potent edibles designed to look like children’s cereal. Greenleaf Farms also offered for sale marijuana 'blunts,' which were offered in various THC concentrations," the statement reads.

Smoker's Corner in Norwich was cited as another unlicensed retailer.

"During multiple visits, an investigator from the Office of the Attorney General observed illegal high-THC edibles for sale. Further, after the investigator asked if there was any 'pot' available for purchase, a Smoker’s Corner employee retrieved a mason jar full of marijuana flower from a back room. The employee then weighed the marijuana on a scale, bagged it, and sold it to the Office of the Attorney General’s investigator. The cannabis products lacked required warnings and labels, did not appear to be produced by licensed facilities or tested in accordance with state law."

The other violations were reported at establishments in New Haven, East Haven, Bridgeport, Suffield, and New Britain.

In each instance, the retailers and wholesalers are accused of violating the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, which carries fines of up to $5,000 per violation.

Tong said in a statement: “Cannabis is legal for adults in Connecticut, but it’s not a free-for-all—retailers must be licensed and legal cannabis products must comply with strict safety standards."

Tong added that some of the products cited are "sold in dangerous and misleading packaging designed to appeal to children. These products are designed to deceive consumers into believing they are safe, tested, and regulated—that is false."

Illegal look-alike cannabis products pose a unique health threat to children, who may unknowingly ingest high doses of potent psychoactive chemicals, according to the statement.

In the regulated adult-use market, edible cannabis products may only be sold in containers that contain a maximum of 100 milligrams of total THC and 5 milligrams of total THC per serving size.

Children who accidentally eat an entire snack-sized bag of “chips” or “candy” may be exposed to more than 100 times the maximum adult serving.

The Connecticut Poison Control Center has received 400 calls regarding cannabis exposure in children since 2021. This includes 181 children under the age of 6 exposed to cannabis edibles.

The majority of those cases required treatment at a heath care facility, according to the statement.