DEL MAR — Area drug-prevention organizations and teenagers are seeking support from local cities after asking the 22nd District Agricultural Association board of directors for stricter enforcement of drug-use laws during concerts at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

“I believe this is a major issue,” Sabina Shamugah, a 17-year-old senior at Torrey Pines High School, told Del Mar council members at their Aug. 18 meeting. “I just wanted to come here to ask you to encourage the Del Mar fair board to please enforce stricter rules regarding smoking at the fairgrounds.”

Sabina said while attending a concert at the fair, she was “in shock because there was so much (marijuana) smoking there.”

“People are not coming there to enjoy the music anymore,” Sabina, a member of North Coastal Youth Partnership, said. “It’s more that they’re coming there because they know they can get high really easily and they know they’re not going to get caught. What was surprising was there were so many officers there right in front of everyone. And they could have stopped them but they didn’t.”

Sabina said she was also surprised to hear the performers encouraging marijuana use.

“It was kind of weird for me because I wasn’t expecting that,” she said.

Barbara Gordon, program director of North Coastal Youth Partnership, said many teens have told her they are concerned about drug use at the fair and vendors selling items promoting marijuana.

“The teens really feel this normalizes and trivializes drug use,” Gordon said. “I think it further implies and encourages the acceptance of drug use.” Gordon urged council members to “lend your support to encourage the fair board to take appropriate action against the behavior that is allowing marijuana smoking and other drug use at the concerts.”

“More teens in San Diego County smoke marijuana than cigarettes,” said Lisa Silverman of Health Advocates for Rejecting Marijuana and North Inland Community Prevention Program. “Marijuana use is the No. 1 reason youth enter treatment in San Diego County. We have a significant problem.

“In our own backyard marijuana, is allowed with absolutely no fear of retribution,” she said. “And the expectation is complete that when kids go to the concerts at the fair they will be able to smoke and nobody will do one thing.

“I can speak about my experiences,” Silverman said. “Last year and this year going to concerts it’s no holds barred. When I tell you everybody’s smoking, I’m not exaggerating.

“It doesn’t matter what your age is. It doesn’t matter who you are. You could have kids with you. You could have your teenage kids in tow. You’re going to be offered a joint.”

Silverman said her organizations are trying to send the message that smoking marijuana is not OK, nor is it harmless. “It is a very dangerous, potent drug that has serious consequences like addiction, and mental health concerns like depression and suicidal thoughts,” she said.

Silverman asked council members to “echo our request to the fair board that they implement a zero tolerance policy in particular when it comes to marijuana smoking.”

Gordon said she planned to make a similar presentation to the Solana Beach City Council. Councilwoman Crystal Crawford suggested she also address the city of San Diego and the county Board of Supervisors.

In a recent San Diego Union-Tribune survey, 64 percent of 5,587 respondents supported a crackdown on marijuana smoking at fair concerts.