Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
In the first case of its kind since the state's medical-marijuana program was approved by lawmakers five years ago, a North Branford man who owns the cannabis growing facility in Eastern Connecticut is facing charges of illegally diverting and distributing it in the company parking lot.
Andrew M. Bozzuto, 54, who is listed in state incorporation documents as the principal owner of Connecticut Pharmaceutical Solutions in Portland, has a court date Dec. 5 in Middlesex Superior Court on a variety of drug-related charges.
The judicial file is under seal, a routine procedure in cases of first-time offenders seeking pretrial diversion.
The case dates back to June 29, when the state Department of Consumer Protection, which runs and regulates the medical-cannabis program, received an anonymous tip that Bozzuto had taken marijuana from the facility – where thousands of plants are grown to maturity and harvested, dried and prepared for market – and given a quantity to another employee in the parking lot of the Portland operation, across the Connecticut River from Middletown.
"Our Drug Control Division acted incredibly quickly as soon as this incident was reported to us, and Mr. Bozzuto's attorney confirmed within a day that Mr. Bozzuto would no longer be on premises at the facility," Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull said Wednesday.
By mid-July, Bozzuto had surrendered his license.
"Our investigation remains pending, but at this time we're confident that this is an isolated situation, and not a reflection of the program as a whole," Seagull said. "We continue to regulate the industry carefully in accordance with state law, and are pleased with the quality health care it provides more than 20,000 patients in the state."
There are four grow facilities in the state and nine dispensaries, serving 21,554 patients. There are 795 doctors registered in the program.
The producers were licensed in January 2014, when Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced the winners of the statewide competition nearly two years after the General Assembly first approved the program for those with chronic health problems and pain.
Connecticut's pharmaceutical model, in which licensed pharmacists assist patients in dispensaries for the strains of cannabis as well as delivery systems – from vaporizers to lingual strips and liquids - has been praised nationally for being one of the most-secure.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: First misuse of medical marijuana heading to court - Connecticut Post
Author: Ken Dixon
Contact: Contact Us - Connecticut Post
Photo Credit: Getty
Website: CTPost: Southwest Connecticut Area News, Fairfield County News, Sports, Business, Entertainment, Real Estate, Classifieds - Connecticut Post
Andrew M. Bozzuto, 54, who is listed in state incorporation documents as the principal owner of Connecticut Pharmaceutical Solutions in Portland, has a court date Dec. 5 in Middlesex Superior Court on a variety of drug-related charges.
The judicial file is under seal, a routine procedure in cases of first-time offenders seeking pretrial diversion.
The case dates back to June 29, when the state Department of Consumer Protection, which runs and regulates the medical-cannabis program, received an anonymous tip that Bozzuto had taken marijuana from the facility – where thousands of plants are grown to maturity and harvested, dried and prepared for market – and given a quantity to another employee in the parking lot of the Portland operation, across the Connecticut River from Middletown.
"Our Drug Control Division acted incredibly quickly as soon as this incident was reported to us, and Mr. Bozzuto's attorney confirmed within a day that Mr. Bozzuto would no longer be on premises at the facility," Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull said Wednesday.
By mid-July, Bozzuto had surrendered his license.
"Our investigation remains pending, but at this time we're confident that this is an isolated situation, and not a reflection of the program as a whole," Seagull said. "We continue to regulate the industry carefully in accordance with state law, and are pleased with the quality health care it provides more than 20,000 patients in the state."
There are four grow facilities in the state and nine dispensaries, serving 21,554 patients. There are 795 doctors registered in the program.
The producers were licensed in January 2014, when Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced the winners of the statewide competition nearly two years after the General Assembly first approved the program for those with chronic health problems and pain.
Connecticut's pharmaceutical model, in which licensed pharmacists assist patients in dispensaries for the strains of cannabis as well as delivery systems – from vaporizers to lingual strips and liquids - has been praised nationally for being one of the most-secure.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: First misuse of medical marijuana heading to court - Connecticut Post
Author: Ken Dixon
Contact: Contact Us - Connecticut Post
Photo Credit: Getty
Website: CTPost: Southwest Connecticut Area News, Fairfield County News, Sports, Business, Entertainment, Real Estate, Classifieds - Connecticut Post
