OLYMPIA, WA 12/24/19 - The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) issued an emergency suspension and revocation of marijuana retailer “Herban Legends,” License No. 420291, located at 55 Bell St. Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98121. The licensee has held a marijuana retail license since February 2016.
This emergency suspension follows complaints from employees, vendors, nearby businesses and Seattle Police Department (SPD) officials. Concerns include the licensee engaging in erratic and criminal behavior on the license premises. The substance of the complaints was validated by the WSLCB during onsite visits, interviews with complainants, and the SPD.
There have been several SPD-involved incidents at the license premises, including a Nov. 21, 2019 incident where SPD responded to a report that the licensee was throwing marijuana products and other merchandise into the parking lot and street of the license premises. Upon arrival, SPD confirmed marijuana products were on the ground outside the business and they were told by individuals in the parking lot that the owner was giving away product – a violation of state law. Over the past several weeks there have been additional law enforcement actions and arrests of the licensee.
Due to the public safety risk of the licensee being unable or unwilling to demonstrate that marijuana product is beings secured on the premises and entered into the state traceability system, the Board issued the emergency suspension. Because the license is held by a single individual, the legal oversight of the business cannot be temporarily assumed by another individual.
Emergency suspensions represent an extraordinary exercise of the state’s power and the WSLCB is mandated to ensure that an emergency suspension is reasonable, justifiable and legal in every way. The WSLCB issued one emergency suspension in 2017, four in 2018 and two in 2019.
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