In November 2012, Washington voters passed Initiative 502. The change in the law legalized small amounts of marijuana-related products for most adults, to tax them, and designate the revenue for healthcare and substance-abuse prevention and education. While Washington residents and Law Enforcement Officials are navigating their way thru new changes in the law, Washington’s Liquor Control Board is hard at work establishing 502’s parameters.
On Wednesday, October 30, 2013, the Liquor Control Board submitted a draft rule that would ban businesses with liquor licenses from permitting on-site use of marijuana. One concern expressed was the use of marijuana in combination with alcohol and the dangers posed on the road if the imbibing consumer drove afterwards.
“It’s already illegal under Washington’s recreational marijuana law to use pot in public, and that includes restaurants, bars and clubs. But at least a couple of establishments have tried using loopholes to allow customers to use marijuana, including “private clubs” within the business.” See article for more details.
It should be noted under RCW 69.50.101 Cannabis is still listed as a schedule 1 controlled substance under Federal Law as such violators are still subject to Federal prosecution. Furthermore, it is still a crime in Washington to possess marijuana if the possessor is under the age of 21 regardless of the amount possessed.
