East Haven Smoke Shop’s Registration Suspended By State

EAST HAVEN, CT — An East Haven smoke shop’s electronic cigarette dealer registration has been suspended following several failed compliance checks over the past two years, officials announced Thursday.

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection has issued a summary suspension of the registration for Planet Zaza, located at 744 Foxon Road in East Haven.

An Electronic Cigarette Dealer registration, issued by DCP, authorizes holders to “sell, offer for sale or possess with intent to sell an electronic nicotine delivery system or vape delivery system,” but does not include the sale of cannabis products, according to officials.

The suspension is the result of six failed compliance checks conducted by DCP’s Drug Control Division, in collaboration with the East Haven Police Department, according to officials.

Officials said the compliance checks took place over the course of a two-year period, following complaints to local law enforcement alleging the illegal sale of cannabis to minors.

Officers seized hundreds of illicit cannabis and THC products from the property since May 2023, according to officials.

See also: East Haven Smoke Shop Fined $4.93M For Illegal Cannabis Sales: CT Attorney General Tong

In the most recent investigation, officials found THC products with “counterfeit labels of brands that target children such as Peeps, Game Boy, Crayola, and Nerds,” officials wrote in a news release.

“It is illegal for Electronic Cigarette Dealers, often referred to as vape or smoke shops, to sell cannabis,” Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli said in a statement. “We expect that all license holders act responsibility and follow the law. Business owners take part in ensuring the public safety of their community. This suspension is a reminder to all license holders that failure to comply with the law will result in the necessary consequences. We want to thank the East Haven Police Department for their diligence and collaboration throughout this investigation.”

The registration suspension is effective immediately, according to officials.

The registration was first issued by the Department of Consumer Protection on Dec. 29, 2022, and has been renewed annually with the current registration set to expire on Feb. 28, 2026.

Anyone with concerns about a registered Electronic Cigarette Dealer in Connecticut can contact DCP’s Drug Control Division at 860-713-6065, or by emailing dcp.drugcontrol@ct.gov.