EVERETT, Wash. — State investigators put 22 pot shops in five western Washington counties to the test, sending underage customers inside, and four stores were busted for selling to people under 21. Two of them are in Everett.
Candace Duce doesn't want to say, I told you so, but,
"You took the words right out of my mouth," the mother of two young kids said.
Duce was so concerned about marijuana close to kids on Rucker Avenue that she moved away from Purple Haze, the marijuana retailer that opened up in a house two doors down from her.
"We said from day one if that store opens, we're out of here," Duce said.
On Wednesday, Purple Haze did sell to minors during a State Liquor Control Board compliance check.
"It aggravates me they're letting stuff like that happen," Duce said.
Purple Haze wouldn't talk to news crews about the violation, but their customers did, including one who refused to go inside with his friend after learning why news crews were there.
"Yeah, I'm kind of surprised he went in after hearing that," John Woods says.
Others like Kelley Jacobi were just shocked.
"Before I went up the stairs, they checked my ID. When I went in, they checked my ID. When I was at the counter, they checked my ID, and when I paid, they checked my ID," she said of her past experiences inside Purple Haze.
Another Everett business failed the state's check as well, but two more passed, including Kush Mart.
The owner said they're diligent about checking IDs.
"It's a huge complaint we get from customers," says Slava Ioffe. "Sometimes, even if we know them by name, we still have to make sure they have their ID."
But Slava says he'd like to see the board be more consistent about how often and when to ID customers.
"I'm hearing now they want them checked twice, but nobody is really clear on that," he says.
Duce says what is clear is marijuana needs to be kept away from kids. She took matters into her own hands and is keeping her kids away from it, instead.
"We're so much happier where we are," she said about the new house she and her family are now renting.
The Liquor Control Board sent in minors between the ages of 18 and 20.
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