This Smoke Shop Just Got Fined Millions for Selling Illegal Weed
A smoke shop in East Haven, Connecticut, has been ordered to pay nearly $5 million in civil penalties after repeatedly selling illegal cannabis products in defiance of a court order.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong secured a $4.93 million judgment against Planet Zaza and its owner, Mohamed Alraishani, for what officials called “persistent illegal cannabis sales in spite of a court order and repeated law enforcement visits.”
According to Tong, this is the largest civil penalty ever imposed in Connecticut for illegal cannabis sales. “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,” he stated.
Violations and Fake Labeling
The state first took legal action against Planet Zaza in January 2024 for violations of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA). Following multiple surprise inspections, officials found numerous unlicensed high-THC cannabis edibles being sold — many exceeding the potency limits authorized under state law. Some products even featured fake prescription labels, falsely suggesting they were medical-grade and sold by a licensed dispensary.
Investigators also noted that these untested products were not produced in state-authorized facilities and frequently used youth-targeted packaging — a major regulatory red flag.
Ignoring Court Orders
Despite a judge’s temporary injunction issued on November 12, 2024, ordering Planet Zaza to cease sales, the store continued to operate illegally. Officials reported ongoing activity even after multiple visits from local law enforcement and consumer protection officers.
Planet Zaza did not provide any financial hardship evidence to contest the penalty. The court ultimately sided with the state, ordering the shop to pay $5,000 for each of the 621 days it violated CUTPA, plus $25,000 for each of the 73 days it disobeyed the court injunction — totaling $4.93 million.
Judge Matthew D. Gordon stated that the defendants would likely continue their activities without a serious financial deterrent, reinforcing the necessity of the judgment.
Legal Cannabis, With Conditions
Cannabis is legal for adults in Connecticut, but only through licensed and regulated channels. All products must meet strict testing and packaging requirements. Tong emphasized that violations like these undermine the legal market and endanger public health. “State and local law enforcement routinely find illegal cannabis products for sale,” he noted.
This ruling sends a strong message to unlicensed sellers across the state: operating outside the legal framework comes with a heavy price tag.
