A newly opened marijuana shop in Hazel Dell has put its owner in a sticky situation.

Sticky’s Pot Shop opened its doors late last month at 9411 N.E. Highway 99, defying Clark County’s moratorium on recreational marijuana businesses in unincorporated areas.

“We have worked very hard and expended tremendous amounts of time and money to open our doors,” said shop owner John Larson, who lives in Yakima and responded to questions by email Thursday. “We are simply exercising our right as a lawfully licensed marijuana retailer in the state of Washington.”

But Sticky’s days are numbered. County code enforcement soon will issue a warning to Larson telling him to shut down the store and vacate within 10 days, said Paul Scarpelli, Clark County’s code enforcement manager. If he refuses, “we’re going to take matters into our own hands,” Scarpelli said.

It came as a surprise to Scarpelli that Larson was able to obtain a certificate of occupancy for the property in the first place. It appears, however, that the 68-year-old store owner applied for, and was granted, a certificate of occupancy under the name Emerald Enterprises, Scarpelli said.