Wash. Rev. Code § 69.50.560

Current through 2024

Section 69.50.560 - Controlled purchase programs-Persons under age twenty-one-Violation-Criminal penalty-Exceptions

(1) The board may conduct controlled purchase programs to determine whether:

(a) A cannabis retailer is unlawfully selling cannabis to persons under the age of twenty-one;

(b) A cannabis retailer holding a medical cannabis endorsement is selling to persons under the age of eighteen or selling to persons between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one who do not hold valid recognition cards; or

(c) A cooperative organized under RCW 69.51A.250 is permitting a person under the age of twenty-one to participate.

(2) Every person under the age of twenty-one years who purchases or attempts to purchase cannabis is guilty of a violation of this section. This section does not apply to:

(a) Persons between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one who hold valid recognition cards and purchase cannabis at a cannabis retail outlet holding a medical cannabis endorsement;

(b) Persons between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one years who are participating in a controlled purchase program authorized by the board under rules adopted by the board. Violations occurring under a private, controlled purchase program authorized by the board may not be used for criminal or administrative prosecution.

(3) A cannabis retailer who conducts an in-house controlled purchase program authorized under this section shall provide his or her employees a written description of the employer's in-house controlled purchase program. The written description must include notice of actions an employer may take as a consequence of an employee's failure to comply with company policies regarding the sale of cannabis during an in-house controlled purchase program.

(4) An in-house controlled purchase program authorized under this section shall be for the purposes of employee training and employer self-compliance checks. A cannabis retailer may not terminate an employee solely for a first-time failure to comply with company policies regarding the sale of cannabis during an in-house controlled purchase program authorized under this section.

(5) Every person between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one who is convicted of a violation of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as provided by RCW 9A.20.021.

RCW 69.50.560

Amended by 2022 c 16,§ 105, eff. 6/9/2022.

Added by 2015 c 70,§ 33, eff. 4/24/2015.

Intent-Finding- 2022 c 16: See note following RCW 69.50.101.

Effective date- 2015 c 70 s s 21, 22, 32, and 33: See note following RCW 69.51A.230.

Short title-Findings-Intent-References to Washington state liquor control board-Draft legislation- 2015 c 70: See notes following RCW 66.08.012.