Marijuana Seizure Values: State of Washington - $25.5M.
The rest of the Country - $27M
Levi Lyon is entertainment director of Hempfest here in Washington who is at the head of a lawsuit that threatens to expose the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board as a completely corrupt entity with no true enforcement powers. Mr. Lyon has a documented history of progressive education about responsible marijuana use.
But today his sits in potential ruin at the hands of the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board after they confiscated his Vans as criminal tools because he and his partner were smoking marijuana in a registered RV at a Frisbee party.
Undercover agents attended the event then later showed up with warrants that did not contain any signed Affidavits for the vans. In a zoon interview Mr. Lyon recalls there being a problem with the Warrant in the field that day.
Advocates with Stafne Law Advocacy and Consulting asked for his files but have never seen any sworn Affidavit supporting the seizure of the vans.
Weeks later a Good Samaritan obtained a different signed Affidavit that the Agency used to obtain electronics from the van, but no one has any proof that Officer Robbie Slattery is in fact a Licensed Peace Officer authorized with full authority here in Washington.
In fact there is pending legislation now with Bill No. HB 1626 - 2019-20 that would allow LCB to enforce State Laws but it has not been enacted.
Meanwhile the DEA reports that Washington State has led the entire Country on Civil Marijuana Forfeitures for the past two years, with $25M being 5 times the take in second place California. Washington alone comprises half of the take for Seizures in the entire Country.
Industry lawyers and legislators in Washington who are advocating for full legalization under HB 1945 have noted a conundrum that allows for the disturbing growth of abusive forfeiture laws:
Marijuana remains legal to buy and to own and to smoke in private…. Which is precisely what Mr. Lyon and his crew believed they were doing in their RV that day. Had they been drinking in the RV it is a safe bet that the buses would still be in their possession.
A Hearing is set in the Thurston County Superior Court at 9:00 am. Friday the 13th where video coverage will be provided. To see an informational video and more information please visit his web page at
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