Wash. Rev. Code » Title 82 · Chapter 82.24
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 82.24.500 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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No person may engage in or conduct the business of purchasing, selling, consigning, or distributing cigarettes in this state without a license under this chapter, or providing consumers with access to a commercial cigarette-making machine without a license under this chapter. A violation of this section is a class C felony.
[ 2012 2nd sp.s. c 4 s 11; 2003 c 114 s 10; 1986 c 321 s 4.]

Notes:

Effective date—2012 2nd sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW 82.24.030.
Policy—Intent—1986 c 321: "It is the policy of the legislature to encourage competition by reducing the government's role in price setting. It is the legislature's intent to leave price setting mainly to the forces of the marketplace. In the field of cigarette sales, the legislature finds that the goal of open competition should be balanced against the public policy disallowing use of cigarette sales as loss leaders. To balance these public policies, it is the intent of the legislature to repeal the unfair cigarette sales below cost act and to declare the use of cigarettes as loss leaders as an unfair practice under the consumer protection act." [ 1986 c 321 s 1.]
Savings—1986 c 321: "A cigarette wholesalers or retailers license issued by the department of licensing under RCW 19.91.130 in good standing on the July 1, 1991, constitutes a license under RCW 82.24.500." [ 1986 c 321 s 11.]
Effective date—1986 c 321: "Sections 1 and 4 through 14 of this act shall take effect on July 1, 1991." [ 1986 c 321 s 15.]
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases, 2005–2019 · leading case: Griffith v. Schnitzer Steel Indus., 115 P.3d 1065 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005).
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Griffith v. Schnitzer Steel Indus., 115 P.3d 1065 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). “020 (1994) (levying an excise tax on the sale of cigarettes); former RCW 82.24.500 (1986) (making it a misdemeanor to engage in the business of selling cigarettes without a license).”
Griffith v. Schnitzer Steel Indus., Inc., 128 Wash. App. 438 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). “020 (1994) (levying an excise tax on the sale of cigarettes); former RCW 82.24.500 (1986) (making it a misdemeanor to engage in the business of selling cigarettes without a license).”
Matheson v. Washington State Liquor Control Bd., 130 P.3d 897 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006). “250(1)(b)). Mr. Matheson is not a licensed wholesaler in Washington.”
Matheson v. State Liquor Control Bd., 130 P.3d 897 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006). “250(1)(a)) or any individual who has given advance notice to the Board (RCW 82.24.250(1)(b)).”
State Of Washington v. Robert R. Comenout, Jr. (Wash. Ct. App. 2017). “were convicted of one count of engaging in the business of cigarette purchasing, selling or distributing without a license in violation of RCW 82.24.500 and one count of possession of more than 10,000 contraband cigarettes in violation of RCW 82.”
State Of Washington v. John Peterson (Wash. Ct. App. 2019). “The State charged Peterson with conducting the business of selling cigarettes without a license contrary to RCW 82.24.500. Before trial, Peterson objected to the State introducing a printout of the text messages allegedly between Peterson and Raveica to arrange the sale.”
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