High Seas
The summer night is calm over the San Juan Islands as Steve’s classic 34-foot trawler lazily swings on the hook. His wife sleeps soundly below after a sun-kissed day underway. Steve takes in the brilliant cosmos of stars from the flybridge and lights a pre-rolled joint. He legally bought the cannabis product for less than $10 from a store on the mainland. After a deep inhale, he gazes at the Big Dipper and takes a moment to appreciate being alive.
Scenes like this are commonplace in American boating, especially where cannabis is legalized in states such as Washington. But the combination of marijuana and boats—simple in concept—is anything but in practice. The twisted maze leads to ramifications ranging from dueling jurisdictions and complications of vessel operation.
Is Steve Breaking the Law?
Steve is a real Puget Sound boater and recreational marijuana user. He’s owned both sail and powerboats over the decades, and by mainstream standards, is an upstanding citizen: gainfully employed with a notable career. But simply getting the rules straight is a challenge.
“It’s a nightmare for a boater,” said Steve. “What rules do you follow? You don’t even know you’re in violation of rules sometimes.” Steve is aware that the U. S. Coast Guard (USCG) operates under different rules than local law enforcement agencies. “I know they
