608035 - A Consumer's Guide Washington Cannabis Laws

Washington Resources

Department of Health

• Medical cannabis authorization

database

• Medical cannabis consultant certificate

• Standards for products that may be

beneficial for medical use

• Cannabis prevention and education

Web: www.doh.wa.gov/medicalcannabis

Phone: 360-236-4819

Email: medicalcannabis@doh.wa.gov

Liquor and Cannabis Board

Licensing and regulation of all cannabis

businesses:

• Producers

• Processors

• Retailers, including medical endorsements

• Seed-to-sale traceability system

Web: hps://lcb.wa.gov/

Phone: 360-664-1600

Email: hp

s://lcb.wa.gov/contact

Department of Agriculture

• Pesticide use on cannabis

• Cannabis-infused edibles processors

• Industrial hemp

Web: hps://agr.wa.gov/

Phone: 360-902-1800

Email: hps://agr.wa.gov/ContactUs/

Department of Revenue

• Recreational and medical cannabis taxes

• Recordkeeping

Web: hps://dor.wa.gov/

Phone: 1-800-647-7706

A Consumer’s Guide

Washington

Cannabis

Laws

Driving, Traveling and Reciprocity

It is illegal to drive under the influence of

cannabis if you have more than 5 nanograms of

active THC per milliliter of blood. Doing so may

result in significant legal penalties.

If you are traveling outside of Washington,

remember it is prohibited to take cannabis

outside of Washington, even if you are traveling

to another legalized state.

Washington laws do not include a reciprocity

clause; therefore, if you are an out-of-state

paent, you would not be aorded the same

benets or protecons as a Washington cannabis

paent. However, Washington visitors, age 21

and up, may purchase product from any licensed

retailer.

Employment and Housing

Employers and Landlords have a right to

implement and enforce cannabis use

restrictions, even if you are of legal age or have

a medical cannabis authorization to use

cannabis for medical purposes. It is advised to

check on these policies before using.

Public vs. Private

It is illegal to use cannabis in public, this

includes, smoking, vaping, or eang edibles

as you’re walking around outside. You are

allowed to use cannabis on private property, but

property owners have the right to restrict use.

DOH 608-035 January 2022

To request this document in another format, call

1-800-525-0127. Deaf or hard of hearing customers,

please call 711 (Washington Relay) or email

[email protected].

Qualifying Conditions

A medical cannabis patient must be a resident

of Washington State and diagnosed with a

qualifying condion.

The qualifying condions

are limited to those listed on the state’s

medical cannabis authorization form.

Authorizaon Form

A qualifying paent will obtain an authorizaon

form from their healthcare professional. To be

valid, the form must be complete, signed and

printed on tamper-resistant paper.

To register in the state medical cannabis

authorization database, the patient may take

their authorization form to a medically

endorsed cannabis store where a certified

consultant will register the patient and issue a

recognition card.

Medical Cannabis Certified Consultant

All licensed medically-endorsed retail stores are

required to have a certified medical cannabis

consultant on staff. The role of a consultant is to

assist the patient with the registration process

and provide guidance to products that may

benefit the patient’s medical condition.

Cannabis Products

All products are held to the same culvaon,

harvesng, tesng, processing, packaging and

labeling standards. The Department of Health,

in collaboraon with the Washington State

Liquor and Cannabis Board, adopted addional

standards for products that may be benecial for

medical use. These products are idened by the

use of special logos:

Retail vs. Medically-endorsed

Adults age 21 and older may purchase

product from a licensed cannabis retail store.

A cannabis retail licensee may add a medical

endorsement that allows them to:

• Sell cannabis for medical use or provide

cannabis at no charge to qualifying patients

and their designated provider

• Access the authorization database for the

purpose of registering qualifying patients and

designated providers

Medical Use

Healthcare Professionals

The law allows specic types of healthcare

professionals (MD, DO, DOA, ARNP, NT, PA)

to authorize cannabis for medical use.

Adult Patients (age 18 and older)

Adult patient medical cannabis authorizations

are good for up to one year. Patients age 18-20

are required to be registered to purchase

product from a medically-endorsed store.

Designated Providers

A designated provider provides cannabis to a

qualifying patient, and must be age 21 or older. A

designated providers will receive their own

authorizaon completed, signed and printed

on tamper-resistant paper by the paent’s

healthcare professional.

Minor Patients (under age 18)

Minor patients can receive a medical cannabis

authorizaon that is good for six months (or less).

Minor paents and their parent/legal guardian

are required to register in the database.

Possession and Growing

Home Culvaon

Current Washington law does not allow home

grows for recreational use. Only licensed

cannabis producers and qualifying patients who

are authorized may grow under current

regulations.

Growing for Medical Use

A patient with an authorization form is allowed

to grow up to four plants within their domicile.

Cardholders are allowed to grow up to six plants

(maximum 15 plants per household), depending

on the healthcare professional’s

recommendation.

Cooperatives

Qualifying patients who are registered in the

database may opt to join a cooperative to grow

their own plants. This may be an option for

patients who cannot grow within their domicile.

KNOW THE LAW and STAY SAFE