On Monday, the Seattle City Council adopted legislation establishing a $27 fine for smoking marijuana in a public. This fine is similar to fines for the public consumption of alcohol.
The legislation does allow the Seattle Police Officers to issue a warning to offenders whenever practical before issuing a citation. The bill also requires the Seattle Police Department to monitor enforcement by age, race, sex and locations of any citations, so Council can evaluate whether the law is being equitably enforced. The ordinance goes into effect thirty days after it is signed into law by the executive.
“When I-502 legalized recreational marijuana use in Washington State, it also created a fine for consuming marijuana in public. The best long-term protection for legal marijuana is to move forward responsibly. Setting a reasonable fine, noting officers will be giving warnings, and studying the impacts strikes a good balance,” said Councilmember Nick Licata, chair of the Housing, Human Services, Health and Culture committee. “This legislation adopts state law.”
In 2012, Washington state voters approved I-502 legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana, and directing the Liquor Control Board to develop a process for regulating marijuana production, processing, selling, and delivery. I-502 includes a provision creating a civil infraction for consuming marijuana in public, with a fine up to $50.
