On Tuesday, September 13, officers of the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) served simultaneous search warrants on two unlicensed vapor and tobacco retail stores in the West Olympia area. Both locations had been operating without a license and illegally selling vapor products.
The first location, Lochness Smoke Shop, was issued an LCB Board order revoking its license on November 17, 2020 as a result of multiple public safety violations. After the board’s order was served on the licensee, the LCB received several complaints that the location was still selling age-restricted vapor products without a license.
During the investigation into these allegations, multiple undercover purchases of age-restricted products were made at the location. A male subject was taken into custody at the Lochness location and booked for an outstanding warrant for failure to appear.
The second shop, Ausum Vapor, let the company's licenses lapse. During the re-application process, on August 10, 2022, the board denied their application due to misrepresentation of fact on the application and for multiple public safety violations.
After the board’s denial of the application, the LCB received several complaints that the location was still selling age-restricted vapor products without a license. Undercover officers again made multiple purchases of age-restricted products from the location.
Both search warrants were issued by a Thurston County judge. The LCB officers were assisted by Olympia Police Dept. while serving the search warrants. During the service of the search warrants, officers seized age-restricted products and synthetic THC products which are prohibited in Washington state.
LCB officers will be recommending charges against the former licensee for the illegal possession and/or distribution of age restricted vapor products, which is a felony.
