Report Card
Enforcement
Washington’s Department of Health may enter into interagency contracts for enforcement. The liquor and cannabis board manage license administration and license suspension/revocation, including penalties. Mandatory age verification is not a part of retailer sale requirements and are only completed if the age of the purchaser is unclear. Penalty’s can be placed on the retailer and clerk and Washington law does not provide for a minimum number of compliance checks. Further, Washington has a 36-month violation accrual period and repeated violations may lead To revocation of license for 5 years. Washington penalizes youth under 18 years of age for purchase, use, or possession (PUP) of tobacco products Washington penalizes youth under 18 years of age for purchase, use, or possession (PUP) of tobacco products.
Tobacco Retail License
- Comprehensive statewide Tobacco Retail License covering all tobacco products
- Multiple Tobacco Retail Licenses that cover all tobacco products
- Tobacco Retail License only covers cigarettes and NOT e-cigarettes
- No statewide Tobacco Retail License
Preemption
- No preemption
- Preempted from raising the sales age
- Preempted from creating a Tobacco Retail License
All public health is local. Often Big Tobacco works to add preemption to statewide tobacco control bills so cities and counties are unable to enact laws that better protect the public.
High School Vaping Rate
21.2%
Tobacco Prevention vs. Industry Marketing
$1 : $50
Tax per pack of cigarettes
$3.03
State Rank: 9