MANCHESTER, NH – Queen City Market will be penalized for selling spice in violation of a new city ordinance making it illegal. It was the only store of 100 checked for compliance that failed.
On November 12, 2014 the New Hampshire Liquor Commission Division of Enforcement and Licensing conducted 100 premise inspections in Manchester, at businesses licensed to sell beverage and wine for “off sale” consumption. Of the 100 businesses inspected only one was found to be in violation of the recently amended city ordinance prohibiting synthetic cannabinoids.
Queen City Market, located at 31A Elm St. was issued an administrative notice for violation of RSA 179:50 Unlawful Purposes. The business is subject to fines, suspension or revocation of their license to sell beverages and wines, and any other penalties the commission deems appropriate.
Liq Rule 603.03 allows for special penalty exceptions when the commission considers the offense to be a gross deviation from public safety or public welfare.
Overall, compliance across the city was 99 percent.
The use of synthetic cannabinoids, also known as K2 or Spice, are known to have serious negative health risks and have been linked to stroke, brain and kidney damage due to the unspecified chemicals used to produce the product.
“Synthetic drugs are extremely dangerous and are a significant risk to public health,” said Scott Dunn, Deputy Director of the NHLC Division of Enforcement and Licensing. “The Division is committed to working with industry members to ensure these drugs are not sold at businesses licensed by the NH Liquor Commission. The near-perfect compliance rate illustrates that the swift action taken by elected officials and collaboration with the law enforcement community is making an impact in Manchester.”
Over the next several months The Division of Liquor Enforcement and Licensing will continue to conduct inspections of businesses licensed to sell alcohol throughout the State of New Hampshire in an effort to identify those businesses who are selling or distributing synthetic drugs.
For any questions please contact Deputy Director Scott Dunn at 603.724.0475.