Liberty Lake council hears divided public on secondhand marijuana and tobacco smoke, staff urges nonpunitive approach

Liberty Lake City Council members spent a workshop hearing more than an hour of public comment on Tuesday, March 18, about secondhand marijuana and tobacco smoke drifting between closely built homes and whether the city should add smoking to its chronic nuisance ordinance.

Supporters of an amendment and several neighbors told the council smoke from nearby properties forces children and adults indoors and, in some cases, harms residents with medical conditions or veterans with sensitivities. "It's about protecting the health and safety of every resident to breathe clean air where they work, play and live," said David Clay, a Liberty Lake resident who opened public remarks on the topic. Medical student Adam Wallace, another resident, said, "Parents should not have to worry about their kids breathing in marijuana or tobacco smoke while playing in their own backyard." Other residents said they use marijuana for medical reasons and asked how…