2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 21a - Consumer Protection › Chapter 420h - Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis › Section 21a-421p. - Suspension or revocation of, refusal to grant or placement of conditions on, license or registration. Imposition of fines. Certain information exempt from disclosure. Notice and hearing. Restrictions on timing of reapplication for license or registration.

(a) For sufficient cause found pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the commissioner may suspend or revoke a license or registration, issue fines of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars per violation, accept an offer in compromise or refuse to grant or renew a license or registration issued pursuant to RERACA, or place such licensee or registrant on probation, place conditions on such licensee or registrant or take other actions permitted by law. Information from inspections and investigations conducted by the department related to administrative complaints or cases shall not be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200, except after the department has entered into a settlement agreement, or concluded its investigation or inspection as evidenced by case closure, provided that nothing in this section shall prevent the department from sharing information with other state and federal agencies and law enforcement as it relates to investigating violations of law.
(b) Any of the following shall constitute sufficient cause for such action by the commissioner, including, but not limited to:
(1) Furnishing of false or fraudulent information in any application or failure to comply with representations made in any application, including, but not limited to, medical preservation plans and security requirements;
(2) A civil judgment against or disqualifying conviction of a cannabis establishment licensee, backer, key employee or license applicant;
(3) Failure to maintain effective controls against diversion, theft or loss of cannabis, cannabis products or other controlled substances;
(4) Discipline by, or a pending disciplinary action or an unresolved complaint against a cannabis establishment licensee, registrant or applicant regarding any professional license or registration of any federal, state or local government;
(5) Failure to keep accurate records and to account for the cultivation, manufacture, packaging or sale of cannabis;
(6) Denial, suspension or revocation of a license or registration, or the denial of a renewal of a license or registration, by any federal, state or local government or a foreign jurisdiction;
(7) False, misleading or deceptive representations to the public or the department;
(8) Return to regular stock of any cannabis where:
(A) The package or container containing the cannabis has been opened, breached, tampered with or otherwise adulterated; or
(B) The cannabis has been previously sold to an end user or research program subject;
(9) Involvement in a fraudulent or deceitful practice or transaction;
(10) Performance of incompetent or negligent work;
(11) Failure to maintain the entire cannabis establishment premises or laboratory and contents in a secure, clean, orderly and sanitary condition;
(12) Permitting another person to use the licensee's license;
(13) Failure to properly register employees or license key employees, or failure to notify the department of a change in key employees or backers;
(14) An adverse administrative decision or delinquency assessment against the cannabis establishment from the Department of Revenue Services;
(15) Failure to cooperate or give information to the department, local law enforcement authorities or any other enforcement agency upon any matter arising out of conduct at the premises of a cannabis establishment or laboratory or in connection with a research program;
(16) Advertising in a manner prohibited by section 21a-421bb; or
(17) Failure to comply with any provision of RERACA, or any policies and procedures issued by the commissioner to implement, or regulations adopted pursuant to, RERACA.
(c) Upon refusal to issue or renew a license or registration, the commissioner shall notify the applicant of the denial and of the applicant's right to request a hearing within ten days from the date of receipt of the notice of denial. If the applicant requests a hearing within such ten-day period, the commissioner shall give notice of the grounds for the commissioner's refusal and shall conduct a hearing concerning such refusal in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 concerning contested cases. If the commissioner's denial of a license or registration is sustained after such hearing, an applicant may not apply for a new cannabis establishment, backer or key employee license or employee registration for a period of one year after the date on which such denial was sustained.
(d) No person whose license or registration has been revoked may apply for a cannabis establishment, backer or key employee license or an employee registration for a period of one year after the date of such revocation.
(e) The voluntary surrender or failure to renew a license or registration shall not prevent the commissioner from suspending or revoking such license or registration or imposing other penalties permitted by RERACA.
(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-1, S. 58.)
History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-1 effective July 1, 2021.