Thurston County commissioners pictured here in a January meeting voted to change the county's welcoming resolution on Tuesday, April 18.
A new ordinance passed by the Thurston County commissioners on Tuesday implementing civil penalties to the owners and renters of locations where underage drinking and consumption of marijuana is taking place.
The ordinance makes gatherings where underage consumption is taking place a civil infraction and the person responsible for the property — owner, renter or leaser — can be fined up to $250.
Exceptions are made for locations regulated by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Control Board, when the minor consuming is closely supervised by a parent or guardian, if the use of marijuana or alcohol is medicinal or if consumption is part of a religious service or ceremony.
“This is a civil infraction, we are not looking to prosecute them criminally,” Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney Jon Tunheim said. “In large part this is about public safety and traffic safety.”
Knowingly giving alcohol or marijuana to minors is a criminal offense, Tunheim said. Those offenses are prosecuted. This ordinance focuses on people who have a passive, head-in-the-sand type approach to underage consumption. Meaning, renters or owners who have the “so long as I don’t know about it” approach will also be held responsible along with those who provided the alcohol or marijuana to the minors.
“Kids are 30 percent of our population but 100 percent of our future,” Commissioner Gary Edwards said.
The bill was supported by members of the cannabis industry, including the Sound Artisan Growing Ethics group, which is a collection of growers, producers and retailers.
“One of the key things we are concerned with in the cannabis industry is public safety,” Neomosha Nelson, a member of SAGE, said.
Studies suggest laws like this reduce impaired driving, said Meg Sullivan, the executive director of Thurston Together, a youth health advocacy group.
“The science suggests this is an effective tool,” she said.
The cities of Rainier and Mercer Island have similar laws on the books. Napa County in Maryland has a similar law as does the state of California.
Speaking in opposition to the bill, Thurston County political activist and unsuccessful county commissioner candidate in 2016, Jon Pettit, said the ordinance is an overreach of the government.
“This is a real reach thinking it will apply to people who aren’t going to read it,” he said. “It is a, bit of a stretch.”
Pettit agrees underage consumption is a problem and the owners or renters should take responsibility for what happens on their property; however, he believes the current laws are adequate.
