Washington Cannabis Stores Posted a Far Higher Youth Compliance Rate Than Liquor and Tobacco Stores Over Past Decade
- Washington’s licensed cannabis industry has achieved a 94.3% youth access compliance rate from 2015-2025, outperforming liquor (80.9%) and tobacco/vapor (86.1%) industries.
- Cannabis compliance rates consistently ranged from 88.9% to 96.5% annually, with most years above 92%, based on 7,370 successful checks out of 7,816 conducted between 2015 and 2022.
- Liquor compliance rates were lower, generally between 70% and mid-80%, with recent years at 73.3% in 2024 and 78.1% in 2025, based on 20,397 successes out of 25,211 checks.
- The data undermines claims that marijuana businesses are uniquely vulnerable to underage sales, showing licensed cannabis retailers lead in preventing youth access compared to alcohol and tobacco/vapor sectors despite heavier political scrutiny.
Washington’s licensed cannabis industry has posted a significantly higher youth access compliance rate over the past decade than both the liquor and tobacco/vapor industries, according to data from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board. The data shows an overall youth compliance rate of 94.3% for cannabis between 2015-2025, compared to 80.9% for liquor and 86.1% for tobacco/vapor. That means cannabis outperformed liquor by 13.4% and topped tobacco/vapor by 8.2%.
The gap is notable given how often marijuana businesses are singled out by opponents and critics as a threat to youth access. In Washington, at least based on the state’s compliance check data, licensed cannabis stores have been the strongest-performing of the three regulated industries by a clear margin.
The cannabis data shown in the dashboard gives additional context. From 2015 through 2022, annual compliance rates ranged from 88.9% to 96.5%, with most years landing above 92%. The total shown for that period was 7,370 successful compliance checks out of 7,816 checks conducted, resulting in the 94.3% average.
By comparison, liquor posted a total compliance rate of 80.9%, based on 20,397 checks in compliance out of 25,211 checks conducted. Annual liquor compliance rates shown in the dashboard generally fell in the 70% to mid-80% range, including 73.3% in 2024 and 78.1% in 2025.
Tobacco/vapor performed better than liquor overall, but still trailed cannabis by a sizable margin. The dashboard lists a total compliance rate of 86.1%, based on 14,794 successful checks out of 17,173 conducted. Annual tobacco/vapor compliance rates shown in the data ranged from 74.3% to 91.9%.
In other words, the state’s own enforcement figures show that licensed cannabis retailers have been more consistent at preventing underage sales than either liquor outlets or tobacco/vapor businesses. That does not mean the system is perfect, but it does directly undermine the argument that the regulated marijuana market is uniquely weak when it comes to youth access protections.
For an industry that remains under heavier political scrutiny than alcohol in many states, Washington’s numbers provide a clear counterpoint: when it comes to compliance checks, cannabis retailers are not lagging behind. They’re leading.