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Thurston County, WA Public Conduct: Public Marijuana Use (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Citation
Thurston County Code § 10.76.430
Penalty
Misdemeanor, fine up to $250
Scope
All county parks, preserves, and trails
State law
Recreational marijuana legal statewide since 2012

Summary

Thurston County prohibits smoking, vaping, or using marijuana products in any county park, park preserve, or trail under Chapter 10.76 of the Park Code, backed by a misdemeanor penalty.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Thurston County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

No person shall smoke or use tobacco, vaping or marijuana products in any Thurston County park, preserved or on any trail.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 77).

Full Breakdown

Section 10.76.430 of the Thurston County Park Code bans smoking, vaping, and marijuana use in any county park, park preserve, or trail. Violating any Park Code rule, including this one, is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of up to two hundred fifty dollars under Section 10.76.410. Washington legalized recreational marijuana statewide in 2012, but that law never overrode county control of county-owned park land, so use remains banned on Thurston County park property regardless of personal possession limits elsewhere.

Violations & Fines

Smoking, vaping, or using marijuana in a Thurston County park, preserve, or trail is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $250 under Section 10.76.410.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is marijuana legal in Washington but banned in Thurston County parks?
Yes. State law allows adult possession, but Thurston County Code § 10.76.430 separately bans smoking, vaping, or using marijuana inside any county park, preserve, or trail.
What's the penalty for using marijuana in a Thurston County park?
It's a misdemeanor under § 10.76.410, punishable by a fine of up to $250, the same penalty that applies to any other Park Code violation.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Thurston County

All Thurston County rules

Compare Thurston County to another location·View the Washington public conduct overview

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