Vetoed by Governor Chris Gregoire

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes regulations for the use of medical marijuana.

Highlights:

• Exempts the following individuals from prosecution, search, discipline, arrest, or other criminal sanctions or civil consequences in regards to the use of cannabis (Sec. 102):
• Qualifying patients with terminal or debilitating medical conditions that, in the judgment of their health care professionals, may benefit from the medical use of cannabis;
• Persons who act as designated providers to such patients; or
• Health care professionals who authorize the medical use of cannabis to qualifying patients based on professional judgment.

• Prohibits a person from acting as a licensed producer or processor without a license for each production facility or processing facility issued by the department of agriculture and predominantly displayed on the premises (Secs. 601 & 602).

• Limits the amount of cannabis that a qualifying patient or designated provider may legally posess to the following (Sec. 401):
• No more than 15 cannabis plants;
• No more than 24 ounces of useable cannabis;
• No more cannabis product than what could reasonably be produced with no more than 24 ounces of usable cannabis; or
• A combination of useable cannabis and cannabis product that does not exceed a combined total representing possession and processing of no more than 24 ounces of useable cannabis.

• Prohibits a qualifying patient or designated provider from opening a package containing cannabis or from consuming cannabis in a public place (Sec. 501).

• Requires the qualifying patient or designated provider to do all of the following (Sec. 401):
• Present his or her proof of registration with the Department of Health or to any law enforcement officer who questions his or her medical use of cannabis; and
• Keep a copy of his or her proof of registration and the qualifying patient or designated provider's contact information posted prominently next to any cannabis plants, cannabis products, or useable cannabis located at his or her residence.

• Establishes a confidential, voluntary registration system of qualifying patients, designated providers, and licensed producers, processors, and dispensers of cannabis and specifies that registration in the system is valid for 1 year (Sec. 901).

• Requires the Department of Agriculture to create and maintain a secure and confidential list of persons to whom it has issued a license to produce cannabis for medical use or a license to produce cannabis products, and the physical addresses of the licensees' production and processing facilities (Sec. 901).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes regulations for the use of medical marijuana.

Highlights:

• Exempts the following individuals from prosecution, search, discipline, arrest, or other criminal sanctions or civil consequences in regards to the use of cannabis (Sec. 102):
• Qualifying patients with terminal or debilitating medical conditions that, in the judgment of their health care professionals, may benefit from the medical use of cannabis;
• Persons who act as designated providers to such patients; or
• Health care professionals who authorize the medical use of cannabis to qualifying patients based on professional judgment.

• Prohibits a person from acting as a licensed producer or processor without a license for each production facility or processing facility issued by the department of agriculture and predominantly displayed on the premises (Secs. 601 & 602).

• Limits the amount of cannabis that a qualifying patient or designated provider may legally posess to the following (Sec. 401):
• No more than 15 cannabis plants;
• No more than 24 ounces of useable cannabis;
• No more cannabis product than what could reasonably be produced with no more than 24 ounces of usable cannabis; or
• A combination of useable cannabis and cannabis product that does not exceed a combined total representing possession and processing of no more than 24 ounces of useable cannabis.

• Prohibits a qualifying patient or designated provider from opening a package containing cannabis or from consuming cannabis in a public place (Sec. 501).

• Requires the qualifying patient or designated provider to do all of the following (Sec. 401):
• Present his or her proof of registration with the Department of Health or to any law enforcement officer who questions his or her medical use of cannabis; and
• Keep a copy of his or her proof of registration and the qualifying patient or designated provider's contact information posted prominently next to any cannabis plants, cannabis products, or useable cannabis located at his or her residence.

• Establishes a confidential, voluntary registration system of qualifying patients, designated providers, and licensed producers, processors, and dispensers of cannabis and specifies that registration in the system is valid for 1 year (Sec. 901).

• Requires the Department of Agriculture to create and maintain a secure and confidential list of persons to whom it has issued a license to produce cannabis for medical use or a license to produce cannabis products, and the physical addresses of the licensees' production and processing facilities (Sec. 901).

Full Bill Text