The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) has issued two emergency marijuana production license suspensions against North Coast Concentrates. The suspensions each last for 180 days beginning November 2, 2018, and ending on May 1, 2019. The suspensions were issued when the Cannabis Board discovered that North Coast Concentrates, a Port Angeles marijuana producer, had been diverting portions of their marijuana production to be sold on the black market. A North Coast Concentrates employee was pulled over by Lower Elwha Klallam Tribal Police in September and during the stop, officers found 112 grams of marijuana concentrates that were not accounted for on the manifest, which is a requirement for legal marijuana transportation.

Marijuana Producer Licensees in Washington State

In Washington, all marijuana licensees are regulated by the state liquor and cannabis board. If an individual or entity applies for a marijuana producer license they are authorized to produce the following.

• Marijuana for sale at wholesale prices to marijuana processors and other marijuana producers.
• Immature plants or clones and seeds for sale to cooperatives.
• Immature plants or clones and seeds for sale to qualifying patients and designated.

Further, the Washington Administrative Code lays out the rules and regulations created by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board regarding the legal transportation of marijuana. These rules and regulations allow the state liquor and cannabis board to more effectively enforce and oversee production laws. In the scenario above, the North Coast Concentrates was, at first glance, in violation of the following Liquor and Cannabis Board rules.

• “Notification of shipment. Upon transporting any marijuana or marijuana product, a producer, processor, retailer, or certified third-party testing lab shall notify the WSLCB of the type and amount and/or weight of marijuana and/or marijuana products being transported, the name of transporter, information about the transporting vehicle, times of departure and expected delivery. This information must be reported in the Washington State regulated traceability system.
• Receipt of shipment. Upon receiving the shipment, the licensee or certified third-party lab receiving the product shall report the amount and/or weight of marijuana and/or marijuana products received in the traceability system.
• Transportation manifest. A complete printed transport manifest on a form provided by the WSLCB containing all information required by the WSLCB must be kept with the product at all times.”

The North Coast Concentrates employee who was transporting the 112 grams of marijuana concentrates did not notify the State Liquor and Cannabis Board of the intent to transport a shipment, nor did the employee have a manifest and his excuse was that he did not know how to use the computer that created the manifests. The man was arrested pending further investigation and the WSLCB issued an emergency suspension of the North Coast Concentrates marijuana producer licenses.

Contact the Law Offices of Steve Karimi

If you or someone you love has been arrested for illegally possessing, producing, or selling marijuana you need strong legal representation immediately. VUCSA defense attorney, Steve Karimi, is a former prosecutor who now fights for the rights of those accused. He has been named a top-rated defense attorney in the King County area and is dedicated to defending people facing marijuana charges in Washington. Contact the Law Offices of Steve Karimi today.