‘Try it before you buy it:' Pot shop accused of offering free samples

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board said Dank’s Wonder Emporium in Olympia violated state regulations by allowing customers to sample free marijuana products in an unlicensed suite above the pot shop.

Owner Random Vaughn, who faces four state violations, could lose his state cannabis license. He told KIRO 7 Wednesday that he plans to appeal the violations.

“We’re just trying to work with the liquor control board and say, 'OK, guys, looks like there has been accusations,'” said Vaughn. “We believe they’re false accusations, but let’s bring clarification to that.”

The state said undercover officers went into his marijuana shop on Martin Way, after receiving complaints about an illegal marijuana club and other violations, and were told they could go upstairs to “try it before you buy it.”

According to the agency’s report obtained by KIRO 7, undercover officers were then offered “free marijuana product by a Dank’s Wonder Emporium employee.”

Officers witnessed people smoking marijuana upstairs and could smell “burnt marijuana,” according to the report.

"Dank's was never raided, ever,” said Random Vaughn, owner of Dank’s Wonder Emporium in an interview with KIRO 7. “Up here was raided."

Vaughn, who described himself as an open book, showed KIRO 7 around the suite above his pot shop, which houses his production studio and company that produces cannabis-related content, including recorded reviews of marijuana.

The WSLCB, along with the Thurston County Sheriff’s Department, executed a search warrant in the suite above the cannabis shop and removed electronics, according to Vaughn.

"Every one of those officers was never offered to buy something up here, ever,” said Vaughn. “We never have any intent to ever do anything illegal.”

"So, it wasn't a sales tactic up here?" asked KIRO 7 reporter Michael Spears.

“No,” said Vaughn.

State regulators say the pot samples were provided by producers to Dank’s Wonder Emporium. Vaughn stressed the two businesses are separate.

A door connecting the two suites was blocked on one side by a shelf containing cannabis products and a board on the other side, when Vaughn showed KIRO 7 around the building Wednesday.

“Legally bought and purchased weed,” said Vaughn. “It was shared between people up here.”

The WSLCB report, which contained pictures, said free marijuana product samples were advertised by Dank’s Wonder Emporium employees on social media to be tried “upstairs.”

"Those are on private personal accounts, not a company account,” said Vaughn. “We don't monitor what someone types exactly."

The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board said cannabis shops are not allowed to offer and advertise free marijuana or divert products from a licensed space elsewhere.

Thurston County prosecutors said they’re reviewing a case, forwarded by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, to decide whether to file criminal charges for an illegal marijuana club.

Despite evidence that the WSLCB says it has, Vaughn maintains his innocence.

"We're just shocked by the way that this went down,” said Vaughn. “Because if they had come here and said ‘Hey, you can’t do that,’ we'd be like, 'Oh, ok.'”

The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board said Vaughn has 20 days to appeal the state violations. Vaughn said he has not yet filed an appeal.

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