The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) issued an apology on Friday for what appeared to be a retaliatory inspection at a cannabis cultivator. This inspection occurred just a day after the company’s CEO criticized DCP testing protocols for recreational marijuana during a public hearing at the General Assembly.
Bryan Cafferelli, the commissioner of consumer protection, publicly and privately expressed regret about the situation. He stated that the inspection, described as an “unannounced compliance check,” was conducted without his knowledge or approval. Cafferelli emphasized that individuals should feel safe providing testimony at public hearings without fear of retaliation. He affirmed, “This should not have happened,” in a written response to The Connecticut Mirror.
Kaitlyn Krasselt, a spokesperson for the DCP, noted that the inspection found no violations of state regulations or laws. However, both Cafferelli and Krasselt refrained from commenting on who ordered the inspection, labeling it a personnel matter that is being addressed internally.
The inspection targeted Rino Ferrarese, the president of Affinity Grow and an early leader in Connecticut’s cannabis industry, initially involved in medical marijuana and later in the adult recreational market following its legalization in 2021. Ferrarese had recently testified in favor of a bill proposing a panel to review testing rules, which he argues lead to “inconsistent testing, inflated costs, and regulatory inefficiencies, all without a clear benefit to public health.”
Ferrarese highlighted the differences between medical cannabis testing, which focuses on batch testing before packaging, and the adult recreational market’s requirement of testing packaged products for contaminants and strength. He argued for bulk testing to ensure more accurate samples, stating, “If everything is in a jar, you can’t see what the flower looks like. You’re not going to get a representative sample.”
Products in Connecticut undergo testing for contaminants like pesticide residue and heavy metals, in addition to checking the potency of active ingredients like THC and CBD. Ferrarese reiterated the need for precise testing, saying, “We’re just saying we want the most precise testing. We’re not looking for an easy way out. Nobody’s asking for that.”
While Ferrarese declined to comment further, he confirmed that Cafferelli had apologized. The committee’s Democratic co-chairs, Sen. James Maroney and Rep. Roland J. Lemar, expressed concern that even the suggestion of a retaliatory action could severely impact the willingness of individuals to engage in the regulatory process.
