Liquor and Cannabis Board to issue emergency license suspension for Smoking Exodus in Port Orchard

Illegal activity and multiple license violations prompt Liquor and Cannabis Board to issue emergency license suspension for Smoking Exodus in Port Orchard

April, 24, 2020

OLYMPIA, WA --The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) Friday issued an emergency suspension for Smoking Exodus, a vapor product retailer, after an investigation found multiple violations of their state licenses and violations of state and federal drug laws. The suspension is for the licensee listed below:

Smoking Exodus:1382 SE Lund Avenue, Suite 150, Port Orchard, WA 98366

The suspension covers the licensee’s Cigarette, Tobacco, and Vapor Product Retailer license, and comes after an investigation by the WSLCB including multiple complaints and onsite visits. The violations included manufacturing vapor products without the required license, having alcohol on the premises, living in the premises, and the presence of drug paraphernalia which tested positive for methamphetamine.

The license will remain suspended for a period of 180 days, during which the WSLCB will pursue permanent revocation due to the aggravating circumstances of the case.

The WSLCB educates licensees to reach compliance and enforces Washington’s liquor, cannabis and tobacco laws and regulations. The WSLCB 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.

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. This is the first Board-issued emergency suspension of 2020.

For more information about laws related to vapor products visit the WSLCB website at lcb.wa.gov.

###