State closes Medina Smoke Shop for selling unauthorized cannabis products

2 from Smoke Shop face charges for criminal possession of cannabis

Raheeb Almaisari, left, and Aqeel Gobah both face charges following a search warrant at the Medina Smoke Shop.

MEDINA – The Medina Smoke Shop has been shut down by the State Office of Cannabis Management for selling and possessing unauthorized cannabis products, the Orleans County major Felony Crime Task Force announced today.

Two people operating the business also are facing charges for criminal possession of cannabis.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Wednesday at the Medina Smoke Shop, located at 335 North Main St. The Task Force was joined in executing the warrant by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, the Medina Police Department and the State Office of Cannabis Management.

Law enforcement seized over 3 pounds of cannabis flower, more than 25 pounds of cannabis edibles, over 200 THC vapes, numerous viles of THC wax, numerous mushroom infused chocolate bars and over $2,000 in cash, the Task Force said in a news release.

Aqeel Gobah and Raheeb Almaisari, both of Lackawanna, operate the Smoke Shop. They were both charged with 1 count of criminal possession of cannabis in the second degree (class E felony) and 1 count of criminal possession of cannabis in the third degree (class A misdemeanor).

Gobah and Almaisari were taken to the Orleans County Jail for processing and issued appearance tickets returnable to Ridgeway Town Court on Sept. 8.

Law enforcement also was assisted in the investigation by Orleans County District Attorney Susan Howard and the Orleans County Public Health Department.

This investigation is ongoing with further charges and arrests pending lab results, the Task Force said.