Laws

In November 1998, the state of Washington adopted Initiative 692, which legalized the use, possession, and cultivation of marijuana for qualifying patients for medical use. The votes were 59% in favor and 41% against. The legislature amended the law in 2007 and in 2010. After June 10, 2010, registered physicians could provide assistance or medical documentations on a tamper-resistant paper with an identification photo. The qualifying conditions are as follows: cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy or other seizure exposure or spasticity disorders, glaucoma, Crohn’s disease, cachexia, Hepatitis C, and anorexia or other disease associated with vomiting, wasting, and loss of appetite. The law states that a qualifying patient and caregiver can possess not more than a sixty-day supply of medical marijuana, consisting of not more than twenty-four ounces of usable marijuana and six plants. Initiative 502, which legalized recreational use of cannabis, passed in November 2012, allowing individuals age of 21 or above to possess up to an ounce of marijuana. It provides a drug driving law with guidelines of THC levels that are illegal, similar to blood alcohol levels. In Tacoma in 2012, the first ever legal farmers market for the drug open, which has received worldwide coverage for its operation since.

Senate Bill 5052 passed on a bipartisan 36-11 vote and the amendment has been delivered. Beginning July 24, 2015, no more than fifteen plants may be grown or located in any one housing unit. The only exception will be for cooperative gardens established under the law after July 1, 2016. On July 1, 2016, the possession amounts will change and will depend on whether the patient or designated provider is entered into the marijuana program. Patients and designated providers who are entered into the program will be able to possess six plants and eight ounces of useable marijuana. A registered physician can certify up to fifteen plants and sixteen ounces of useable marijuana. Patients and designated providers under the medical cannabis program will be able to purchase from a retail stores licensed by the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) 3 ounces of useable marijuana, 48 ounces of marijuana-infused products in solid form, 216 ounces of marijuana-infused products in liquid form, or 21 grams of marijuana concentrates. Patients and designated providers that have valid authorization but not under the medical cannabis act will not be protected from arrest if they possess more than four plants and six ounces of useable marijuana. They may purchase only in accordance with the laws and rules for non-patients.

Caregiver Laws

Must be 21 years of age or above with no records of drug felony offense. Must be registered with the Department of Health. A provider can also be a qualifying patient. A designated provider may only serve one patient at a time and is prohibited from using the patient’s medicine unless the provider is also a qualified patient. A designated provider may possess no more than fifteen marijuana or cannabis plants and no more than twenty-four ounces of usable marijuana or cannabis for one qualifying patient.

Dispensary Laws

There no dispensaries in the state of Washington, but there are retailers who sell useable marijuana and other processed or concentrated marijuana products to qualifying patients and designated providers for the medical use by patients at the age of 21 or above. Retailers must be 21 years of age or above, with no history of any drug felony offense. Retailers must be lawfully residing at least three months in the state of Washington before applying for a retailer’s license, unless doing a cooperative or partnership business with a current Washington resident. Retailers must be licensed under the state Liquor and Cannabis Board (LBS) with complete required information and documentation. The location must not be within 1,000 feet of any primary or secondary school, public park, library, recreational center, or public transit center.The LCB may conduct controlled purchases from licensed retailers to ensure they’re not providing marijuana to people under the age of 21.

Growing Laws

Currently, a grower can be a registered patient or a designated provider, registered under the Department of Health. A grower can cultivate not more than fifteen cannabis plants and no more than twenty-four ounces of useable cannabis. If the person is both qualifying patient and designated provider/caregiver for a qualifying patient, he cannot possess no more than twice the legal amount. He must be 21 years of age or above and be registered with the Department of Health. The location must be in a fully enclosed, secure, indoor facility or greenhouse with rigid walls, a roof, and doors. Outdoor production must be enclosed by a sight-obscuring wall or fence at least eight feet high.

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