NORTH CANAAN — The owner of the smoke shop Smoker’s Choice was arrested on March 11 for allegedly selling recreational marijuana products without a license from his East Main Street store.
Town Resident Trooper Spencer Bronson, who coordinated the enforcement effort, shared an official Facebook post on March 14 announcing that Mohammad Rahman, 47, of Litchfield had been taken into custody.
The arrest follows an investigation into the business that began with an unannounced search of the store on Jan. 16 which yielded several pounds of illegal cannabis products.
The charges against Rahman are for possession of illicit substances of over 1 kilogram with intent to sell, and for operating a drug factory – the statutory term for any place where drug packaging products are found.
The initial investigation was reportedly instigated due to complaints from residents that illegal merchandise was being sold on the premises, as well as concern that age identification was not being adequately checked.
Multiple “high THC” products, exceeding the legal limit of the psychoactive substance for an unlicensed establishment in Connecticut, were seized during the search, including vapes, edibles and cannabis flower totaling just over 5 pounds, according to the arrest warrant.
Rahman was held on a $100,000 surety bond and faced arraignment the same day as his arrest.
The legal retail of recreational cannabis products in North Canaan narrowly passed a town vote in 2023, but state statute only allows for licensed dispensaries to sell high THC products. Smoker’s Choice does not possess such a license.
