Emergency Suspension Issued for West Olympia’s Silver Lining
Suspension for license violations including sales to minors and obstructing investigations
OLYMPIA WA: The State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) today issued an emergency suspension of an Olympia vapor product, cigarette, and tobacco retailer license after a series of substantiated complaints, sales of vapor products to youth, and obstruction of investigations, among other public safety violations.
Silver Lining, 2413 Harrison Ave. NW, Olympia WA
Beginning in March 2020, the LCB began receiving complaints about Lochness Smoke Shop – which recently changed owners and is currently named Silver Lining. LCB found that Lochness Smoke Shop made sales of vapor products to minors on three occasions. During the course of investigating the sales to minors, the licensee refused to allow an inspection. For these charges and other aggravating circumstances the Board suspended the license of Lochness Smoke Shop on Oct. 21, 2020.
On Oct. 21, LCB officers went to the location to serve the notice of suspension to the owner/licensee of the Lochness Smoke Shop. Upon arrival, the owner of Lochness Smoke Shop notified officers that he sold the business and that he was now acting on behalf of the new owner/licensee of Silver Lining. He obstructed LCB officers from conducting the suspension. While the ownership of the business has changed hands, the former owner/licensee continues to be in charge of the physical location. He refused to allow officers access to inspect the premises, the products regulated by the LCB, and was in violation of other public safety standards during the contact on Oct. 21, 2020. In addition, LCB officers contacted the state Dept. of Revenue whose staff indicated that no vapor product taxes have been paid by the licensed business located at 2413 Harrison Avenue NW.
For this conduct and other aggravating circumstances, the LCB imposed an aggravated penalty of revocation/cancellation of all licenses for Silver Lining.
The licenses will remain suspended for a period of 180 days, after which the WSLCB will pursue permanent revocation due to the aggravating circumstances of the case.
The LCB educates licensees about compliance and enforces Washington’s liquor, cannabis, vapor product and tobacco laws and regulations. The LCB is mandated to ensure that licensees in Washington State follow state laws and regulations. When licensees fail to comply with state law, the Board, under state authority can take action including the issuance of suspensions to ensure public health and safety.
For more information about laws related to vapor products visit the WSLCB website at lcb.wa.gov.