Bellevue Marijuana fined for sale to minor

Bellevue Marijuana, also known as Bel-Mar, was hit with a double fine for a February incident.

The marijuana retailer, located on 116th Avenue Northeast, was fined for a Feb. 24 incident in which a minor was allowed to frequent a restricted area and a subsequent fine for sale or service to a minor.

The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board writes an administrative violation notice and the penalties are not enforced until that notice is completed. Violators can request an informal hearing and subsequently a formal hearing to appeal or reduce the fines and penalties.

Mikhail Carpenter, spokesperson for the board, said Bel-Mar had received the violation notice and had asked for an informal hearing to mitigate some of the penalties. He did not disclose the amount of the fines.

This was Bel-Mar’s second violation, which necessitates a 30-day suspension of the marijuana license. Those penalties can be reduced if the retailer presents mitigating factors.

Cannabis, like alcohol, is illegal to sell to those under the age of 21 in Washington. The penalty for selling marijuana to a minor is a fine as high as $10,000 and a potential Class C felony charge. Selling alcohol to a minor is usually resolved with a $150 fee and a training class sponsored by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board.

Calls and emails to Bel-Mar were not returned.