Washington’s Thurston County Narcotics Task Force raided Olympia’s Sonshine Organics Network on Monday, making no arrests but seizing dried cannabis, edibles, creams and plants, the Olympian reports.
Thurston County Sheriff John Snaza personally delivered a letter to the business owners before the new law — the Cannabis Patient Protection Act — took effect on July 1. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the letter outlined the new law and indicated that violations would not be tolerated.
“We want to make sure that we’ve done our part in reaching out to all the collectives we can,” Snaza said in a previous report, announcing plans to visit shops. “I don’t want to throw people in jail for this. We’re just trying to change the culture again.”
Sonshine Organics was also warned to halt operations by the state Liquor and Cannabis Board.
County prosecutor Jon Tunheim indicated that his office would prosecute cases early on so people know law enforcement officials are “serious,” but hoped that “people who legitimately want to help patients get marijuana will find a way to do that in the legal market.”
The two employees interviewed by police cooperated and were not immediately charged by Tunheim’s office. He previously indicated that employees could be charged and an owner or manager could be held liable.
The investigation is ongoing.