HighBazaar In Hamden Cancels Planned Event After Injunction Threat

HAMDEN, CT — HighBazaar in Hamden canceled an event that had been planned for Sunday after the Attorney General’s Office sought a temporary injunction in Hartford Superior Court to block the “unlicensed, illegal cannabis market,” Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced.

The court filings detailed evidence of repeated violations of state law and included an affidavit from a legal investigator from the Office of the Attorney General who purchased “numerous illegal, untested, and potentially dangerous cannabis products” from HighBazaar markets on January 30, 2022, February 12, 2022, November 8, 2023, and January 13, 2024, according to a news release.

A status conference will be held on the application on Feb. 8, according to Tong.

“HighBazaar operates unlicensed, illegal cannabis markets where vendors peddle untested, illegal products,” Tong said in a statement. “We are pleased that HighBazaar canceled its latest illegal event in response to our court filing. Should HighBazaar resume its unlicensed events, we will not hesitate to use full weight of our enforcement authority to protect public health and safety.”

On Jan. 4, Tong issued cease and desist letters to HighBazaar’s organizers and landlord, the Masonic Temple Day Spring Lodge in Hamden.

The cease and desist letters warned organizers that their events involved the “illegal marketing and sale of cannabis outside of the regulated market, and that the events were accessible to individuals under the age of 21.”

The letters further warned that the markets appeared to violate the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (“CUTPA”), General Statutes § 42-110a, et seq., the Responsible and Equitable Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis Act, General Statutes § 21a-420, et seq., and/or other applicable laws and regulations, according to the news release.

In the letter, Tong requested that organizers cease holding the events immediately and warned that the Office of the Attorney General would “explore all legal options” should HighBazaar organizers fail to do so.

“Despite those warnings, HighBazaar continued to advertise bi-weekly events online at a new location in Hamden, including an event planned for Sunday, January 21,” the news release states. “The event was only canceled after HighBazaar received notice of the request for a temporary injunction.”

Also on Friday, Tong sent a notice to Eventbrite, which HighBazaar has used to promote its markets. The letter warns that such posts violate Eventbrite’s own Community Guidelines and that the events they promoted also violate Connecticut law. The Office of the Attorney General further sent notice to landlord Dieter Hauser, whose property at 3714 Whitney Street has been used for several HighBazaar events.

The letter asks that Hauser cease making the property available for these events immediately. “If you do not do so, our office will explore all legal options,” the letter states.

Residents over age 21 can legally possess and consume cannabis in Connecticut. Cannabis products may only be sold in the regulated market and must meet rigorous testing and packaging requirements. Cannabis products sold outside of the regulated market continue to be illegal and may subject sellers to civil and criminal penalties.

HighBazaar is not licensed to sell cannabis in Connecticut.

HighBazaar organizer Joe Accetulo told CT Insider that Sunday’s event was a planned food drive and they canceled it “because it was apparent there was a misunderstanding” and said they would continue to do “work in the community.”