Norwalk police cite first vape shop under new city ordinance

NORWALK — The Norwalk Police Department Special Services Division executed a search and seizure warrant at R and R Convenience and Smoke, located at 213 Main St., on Sept. 16.

The action was part of an ongoing investigation into smoke shops in the city suspected of selling cannabis and cannabis products without a valid cannabis license.

The City of Norwalk created a new city ordinance pertaining to vape shops due to ongoing issues with vape shops selling marijuana, THC edibles, nitrous oxide and other illegal items.

The new vape shop ordinance can be viewed in full under city code CC-112A, which details the steps to obtain a license to operate a vape shop within the city.

The ordinance states that if the Chief of Police or the Director of Health Department find that a retailer is in violation of this chapter, the vape shop owner will be punishable by a fine, suspension, and/or revocation of the license.

Upon the first violation, the Chief of Police, the Director of Health, or their respective designees, shall impose a fine of $250.

If a second violation is issued within a 12-month period following the first violation, the retailer’s license shall be suspended for six months by the City Clerk.

Upon suspension of a license, all vape products shall be removed from the premises, with failure to remove constituting a separate violation for each day of noncompliance.

If a third violation is issued within a 24-month period following the first violation, the retailer’s license shall be revoked by the City Clerk.

Upon revocation of a license, all vape products shall be removed from the premises, with failure to remove constituting a separate violation for each day of noncompliance.

R and R Convenience and Smoke is the first establishment to be cited under the new ordinance.

The owner, Almonthir A. Alraishani, 26, of Bronx, N.Y., was issued a $250 infraction for violation of Norwalk City Code CC-112A-13.