2005 Washington Revised Code RCW 70.155.050: Sampling prohibited — Penalty.

(1) No person may engage in the business of sampling tobacco products.

     (2) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor.

[2006 c 14 § 3; 1993 c 507 § 6.]

Finding -- Intent -- 2006 c 14: "The legislature recognizes that tobacco use among children is a serious and preventable health problem. Every day sixty-five more children in Washington state become smokers, and every year more than eight thousand two hundred state residents die from tobacco-related illnesses. The legislature further finds that tobacco samples contribute to children's access to tobacco products by providing a no-cost initiation that encourages minors to experiment with nicotine at early ages. Sampling activity often occurs in venues frequented by minors, and tobacco samples are distributed along with other promotional items that contain tobacco brand logos, thus increasing the appeal of the tobacco products as well as the chances that children will obtain them. Sampling events in this state have increased twenty-fold over the past nine years, and nationwide, tobacco industry spending on samples has increased significantly. It is therefore the intent of the legislature to protect minors from the influence of tobacco sampling by eliminating the distribution of samples in this state." [2006 c 14 § 1.]