Long Island medical marijuana firm's CEO faces drug charges

The head of a Plainview-based Internet firm that refers patients to out-of-state doctors prescribing medical marijuana has been arrested on felony drug charges, Lake Success Village police said Friday.

Jason Draizin, 35, founder and CEO of MarijuanaDoctors.com, was arrested Aug. 22 along with three others after they were stopped near Exit 32 on the Long Island Expressway in Great Neck.

Draizin's firm was one of several marijuana entrepreneurs featured in "Cash Crop," a Newsday/News 12 Long Island investigation that examined the growing legal and illegal marijuana business in New York State and around the nation.

A black van promoting MarijuanaDoctors and its website was stopped after improperly entering the left lane of the LIE while headed to a marijuana-related business event in New Jersey, said Lt. Mark Staniszewski, Lake Success deputy commanding officer.

Inside the van police found "a sizable amount" of cocaine, marijuana and Ecstasy, he said. Police said all four in the van were charged with felony drug possession.

"They told the arresting officer that they were going to Atlantic City for some type of marijuana convention," Staniszewski said.

The driver of the van, John Nicolazzo, 32, of Huntington, who also works at the firm, was cited for the commercial vehicle lane violation and for driving with a suspended license.

Draizin, also of Huntington, and the others did not return calls Friday seeking comment.

In previous interviews with Newsday and News 12 Long Island, Draizin emphasized that his firm wanted to cash in on the boom in medical marijuana in states where it was legal, but said it was not involved in any illegal trade in the drug.