Danville adds marijuana and controlled substances to Social Host Ordinance
DANVILLE – The mayor and town council unanimously voted in favor of an amendment to Danville’s ‘Social Host Ordinance’ (4-6.1) that expands the ordinance to include marijuana and controlled substance use.
The amendment expands the town’s existing Social Host Ordinance, implemented in the mid-1990s to address numerous house parties involving juveniles and alcohol. According to Danville Police Lt. Muse, community members, including the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention Team (ADAPT), contacted Chief Allan Shields and requested that the Town of Danville add marijuana and controlled substances to the ordinance.
During a presentation to the town council in April, Muse reviewed efforts by similar municipalities, noting that Marin County recently added marijuana and controlled substances to their Social Host Ordinance. More locally, Muse said Supervisor Candace Andersen is also attempting to expand Contra Costa County’s ordinance.
The current ordinance allows police to levy a fine to adults who host a social gathering in which alcohol is consumed by minors. Fines for violators can be as high as $1000.
Muse said Proposition 64, the “Adult Use of Marijuana Act,” made recreational marijuana use legal for anyone 21 years or older, bringing marijuana to the same enforceable level as alcohol.
Patty Hoyt of Adapt San Ramon Valley, an organization that works to prevent alcohol, marijuana and prescription drug abuse among underage youth, was the only speaker during the public comment section of the hearing.
Hoyt shared that parties and social gatherings are the most frequent way underage youth obtain alcohol and a strong social host ordinance is an effective way to combat the problem. “The legalization of the adult use of marijuana has created a situation in which youth will have access to marijuana through those same social channels,” Hoyt said.
“Strengthening our social host ordinance to include cannabis and cannabis products sends an important signal that we all share the responsibility for the safety of our youth,” Hoyt added.
Councilmember Renee Morgan shared her thoughts, “I never thought that I would see the time come where marijuana would have to be put on an ordinance saying a child under 21 could not use it, but here we are.”
The council unanimously approved the amendment in April.
