Connecticut Attorney General William Tong today announced that Anesthesia Smoke and Convenience in New Haven will remain permanently closed and its owners will pay a $100,000 penalty following repeated violations of the state's cannabis laws.
“Legal cannabis is not a free-for-all. If you are unlicensed, if you sell bootleg, unregulated cannabis, we will find you and we will hold you accountable,” said Tong in a statement.
Tong first sued Anesthesia and its owner Fadhl Shaif in 2024 after multiple unannounced visits by investigators from the Office of the Attorney General and Department of Consumer Protection observed thousands of illegal high-THC products for sale without a necessary cannabis license. Anesthesia agreed to a $50,000 stipulated judgment, with $25,000 suspended if Anesthesia complied with a series of provisions, including a prohibition on Anesthesia and its owner from offering cannabis products for sale without a license. The store was also required to submit annual compliance reports.
After Anesthesia failed to submit its first annual compliance report, as required by the 2024 stipulation, Drug Control Agents from DCP visited Anesthesia on two separate occasions and reported the presence of hundreds of cannabis products – in clear violation of the stipulated judgment. New Haven Police Department participated in one of these inspections.
The Office of the Attorney General filed a motion for contempt on March 30 against Anesthesia and its owner. Attorney General Tong today announced a settlement of that contempt proceeding, forcing the permanent closure of Anesthesia and a permanent injunction against owner Shaif from owning or operating any business in Connecticut.
Shaif must cooperate with the state in ongoing investigations to identify his suppliers and investors. He is further obligated to pay $100,000 to the state, with an additional $125,000 suspended to guarantee compliance with the terms of the agreement.
Individuals age 21 and over can legally possess and consume cannabis in Connecticut. Cannabis products may only be sold in the regulated market and must meet rigorous testing and packaging requirements. Cannabis products sold outside of the regulated market continue to be illegal and may subject sellers to civil and criminal penalties.
