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From: Reddout, Marie L. Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 5:52 PM To: Williams, Kent R Subject: Marijuana Grow Pasco 2505 Commercial

"Lopez, Sheri L" "Simmons, Randy L" <RLS@LIQ.WA.GOV> 9/19/2013 11:42:18 AM FW: Marijuana Grow Pasco 2505 Commercial

Kent, I received follow up information from Pasco Police Detective Paramore related to the indoor marijuana grow discovered earlier today by Metro. Apparently the grower, Mark Gomez, had informed metro officers that he had met with WSLCB several times and had received the approval to begin his grow early as he was likely going to receive a license. It appeared Mr. Gomez was looking for a defense. However, it turns out that our LCB intern , Aaron, and Mike Steenhout had met with Mr. Gomez and Aaron specifically informed Mr. Gomez (verbally) that he would get a marijuana license from WSLCB. According to Mr. Gomezs statements to law enforcement. Mr. Gomez continued to credit Aaron for the information of being licensed, starting early and that his criminal convictions of ten years ago would not be counted against him. Aaron has business cards specifying he represents WSLCB and since he was with Mike Steenhout their statements are being credited for Mr. Gomez not being charged with his criminal conduct of growing over 52 marijuana plants without a license. Mr. Gomez does have a medical marijuana card but he is in excess of 40 plants and specifically told officers he is growing per 502 which is why he has more plants than allowed. According to Detective Paramore, Aaron did deny telling Mr. Gomez he would be licensed for marijuana but when Aaron was specifically asked if he thought he should inform law enforcement of a potentially illegal marijuana grow Aaron stated that he would not answer that question. I of course have paraphrased that conversation and will defer to Detective Paramore for the exact question and answer. The meeting with the grower, Mark Gomez, Mike Steenhout and Aaron the intern was on the States dime, including the lunch. Mr. Gomez stated they paid for even though he was going to pay for his own meal, according to Mr. Gomez, they insisted that they pay for it. This has brought up some questions. This grower has a medical marijuana card and it seems at this point that he is now using that status to say he was just growing for his medical marijuana purposes until the LCB licenses are issued, and then he is going to change his grow to an I502 grow. He has a premise he has started to grow in, it is not approved by WSLCB (unless the intern approved that) it is part of a building with other business tenants who reported the strong odor which alerted authorities. 1. Will the medical marijuana growers be allowed to just convert their current grow over to a licensed grow? i. If so, how will be able to validate the grow from seed to sale? ii. What would a violation look like if the grow premise is not approved but the grow is already established? iii. Would we encourage the current illegal grows to operate by rewarding them with a license? 2. Is there a penalty/violation associated with illegal grows that we will enforce or is that strictly a local law enforcement penalty? 3. Is it an ethics violations for WSLCB Officials to buy meals for people that are trying to get licensed by the WSLCB, especially when rules governing a new industry are being formatted.

Officer Marie L. Reddout Washington State Liquor Control Board Enforcement Division 2715 Saint Andrews Loop, Suite B Pasco, WA 99301 509.492.0761 mlr@liq.wa.gov

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10_8_2013