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Lieutenant Lou D'Amalo outlines new information‑sharing group to help victimized cannabis licensees
Summary
The Liquor and Cannabis Board’s Enforcement and Education team described an Information Sharing Group (ISG) formed in 2025 to improve reporting by licensees and cross‑jurisdictional information sharing among law enforcement, using dashboards, confidential bulletins and targeted trainings to support investigations and prevention.
Lieutenant Lou D'Amalo told the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board caucus on March 31 that the Enforcement and Education Division formed an Information Sharing Group (ISG) in 2025 to address gaps in how crimes against licensed cannabis businesses are reported and investigated.
The ISG was created after staff and licensees identified two recurring problems: licensees frequently do not report thefts and other crimes to the Board, and local law enforcement agencies do not always share information across jurisdictions. “We created the, ISG in 2025 to address these 2 issues,” Lieutenant D'Amalo said.
Why it matters: Licensees that do not report victimization leave regulators with an incomplete picture of criminal activity, and limited interagency sharing can prevent investigators from linking related offenses. The Board’s enforcement team said improving reporting and information flow will help connect crimes, support prosecutions, and give licensees more timely help.
What the ISG does: D'Amalo described a three-part approach. First, the group is developing checklists and crime‑prevention resources enforcement staff and consultants can provide to licensees. Second, the Board has increased training for enforcement officers so they “get in their car and show up at the scene” and gather standardized evidence. Third, an examiners unit dashboard flags inventory adjustments in CCRS when a licensee indicates theft or crime, producing near real‑time alerts to staff.
The ISG also prepares confidential bulletins that are shared with roughly 25 law enforcement agencies and detectives to help tie cases together. D'Amalo offered an example: a traffic stop that uncovered hundreds of packaged cannabis items without traceability, along with other drugs and weapons. “When we gather this information… we send this out across the state because it’s our belief that many of the items you see pictured here were probably taken from a processor or a grow,” he said.
Board members pressed for details about reporting hesitancy. Board member Garrett asked whether licensees don’t report losses; D'Amalo said licensees sometimes assume their local agency will inform the Board and sometimes worry about insurance consequences. Board member Holmes asked whether the Board could help licensees navigate local zoning limits that prevent installing physical protections such as bollards; D'Amalo and Chief Grant said the Board’s role is to provide resources, security assessments and to connect licensees with local agencies or contractors rather than override local zoning rules.
The ISG meets twice a month and the presenters said it is intended to be a supportive hub for both licensees and law enforcement rather than a lead investigative agency. Lieutenant D'Amalo said the initiative aims to make it easier for licensees to report victimization and to help investigators more quickly identify and link related crimes.
What’s next: The Board expressed support and asked for periodic updates as the ISG develops tools and shares successful outcomes with licensees and law enforcement.
