Get a Washington Medical Marijuana Card.

Congratulations on getting approved for your medical certification.

Once you’ve received your medical marijuana authorization, it’s recommended, but not required, that you join the medical cannabis authorization database. Patients and designated providers who hold valid authorizations but aren’t entered into the database may only purchase per the laws and rules for non-patients.

Patients entered into the database will also have an affirmative defense against criminal prosecution if they possess no more than four plants and six ounces of usable marijuana.

To join the authorization database, follow these steps:

1. Take your authorization form to any licensed and medically endorsed marijuana store.
2. The medical marijuana consultant will enter your details into the database.
3. They will also take your photo and provide you with a card. There is a fee that ranges from $1 to $10.

You can find up-to-date information about medically endorsed stores here.

Leafwell can only help current medical marijuana patients in Washington at this time, which means the only process you’ll go through with us online is a renewal. Each time, the process is the same, though. You’ll still need to go through Leafwell to meet with a medical marijuana doctor about your medical conditions. You’ll also need to go to a medically endorsed retail store after you get your medical marijuana authorization in order to get enrolled in the medical marijuana database.

Like California, Washington was ahead of the curve and legalized medical cannabis in the ’90s (1998).

Here are some other important Washington medical marijuana laws to know:

Recreational Cannabis is Legal: Washington was the first state to legalize recreational marijuana use in December 2012 — just three hours ahead of Colorado.

Taxes on Cannabis in Washington: Washington has some of the highest marijuana taxes in the country. Customers pay a 37% excise tax, 6.5% sales tax, and any existing local tax on cannabis products. So getting your med card is still a good idea.

Cultivation Only Allowed for Medical Patients: Cardholders registered with the voluntary-patient identification registry are permitted to grow up to six plants. If they are not part of the patient registry, Washington resident medical patients can grow up to four mature plants.

Delta-8 Products Not Permitted:  CBD is also legal in Washington state. However, under Washington law, delta-8, delta-10 THC, THC-O, and other forms of what the state classifies as “synthetic THC” products are illegal for sale. Violators caught selling these products can have their licenses revoked.

Medical marijuana patients may designate on their medical cannabis authorization form someone to purchase their marijuana products or grow their marijuana for them. The designated provider will also receive an exact copy of the form printed on tamper-proof paper.

Each patient and designated provider must have their own medical marijuana authorization form provided by the patient’s healthcare practitioner.

Minor patients (under 18 years old) are required by law to have a designated provider.

Caregiver (Designated Provider) Requirements:

• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• The designated provider is a parent or legal guardian of a qualifying patient who is under the age of 18 or a person whom the patient has designated to purchase, provide, or grow marijuana on the patient’s behalf.
• Designated providers can only serve one patient at a time.
  A patient may have only one designated provider at any one time.
• Designated providers must be listed on the patient’s medical cannabis authorization form.
• Have a fully completed form also printed on tamper-resistant paper. The patient signs their copy of the authorization form, and the designated provider signs their own copy.
• Entered into the medical cannabis database and have a designated provider recognition card if the patient chooses to be entered in.

Caregiver (Designated Provider) Registration:

• Submit your designated provider’s name, date of birth, and address during your Leafwell registration under the “Caregiver” section. Once approved, you will receive a copy of the authorization form on tamper-proof paper.
• Patients who want to designate a new provider must return to their healthcare practitioner for a new authorization form for themselves and the new designated provider.

Washington does not have medical marijuana reciprocity, which means the state doesn’t recognize other states’ medical marijuana cards. However, anyone over 21 can legally purchase adult-use marijuana products in Washington.

The following states and territories offer reciprocity to a Washington resident who’s a medical marijuana cardholder:

• Arizona
• Arkansas *
• Delaware
• Hawaii *
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Michigan (at the dispensary’s discretion)
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey *
• New Mexico
• Oklahoma *
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island
• U.S. Virgin Islands *
• Utah * (up to two 21-day periods in a calendar year)
• Washington D.C.

*Visitors must complete a visiting patient application with the state program.

Patients under 18 can obtain a medical marijuana card in Washington but must have a parent or guardian as their designated provider.

This person acts as a caregiver authorized by the patient and a licensed physician to purchase, provide, or grow marijuana for their child or patient.

A designated provider must be at least 21 and can only care for one patient at a time.