Authorization Database
Medical cannabis patients with a valid authorization form from their healthcare practitioner may join the medical cannabis authorization database and receive their medical cannabis recognition card. Joining the authorization database is voluntary and isn't required in order to be a medical cannabis patient unless the patient is under the age of 18.
- Benefits of joining the database
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- Purchase products at the medically endorsed retail stores sales and use tax free.
- Purchase up to three times the current limits at licensed retail stores with a medical cannabis endorsement.
- Purchase high-THC products–when available.
- Possess six plants and eight ounces of usable cannabis. A healthcare practitioner may authorize additional plants to a maximum of 15; a patient so authorized may possess up to 16 ounces of usable cannabis produced from their plants (see RCW 69.51A.210).
- Participate in a medical cannabis cooperative (see RCW 69.51A.250).
- Have arrest protection (see RCW 69.51A.040).
- Purchase immature plants, clones and seeds from a state licensed producer (see RCW 69.51A.310)
- How to join the database
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- Take your authorization form to any licensed and medically endorsed retail cannabis store (PDF).
- Ask to see the certified medical cannabis consultant on staff who is trained in working with authorized medical cannabis patients.
- Give the consultant your authorization form so that he or she can enter your information into the database, take your picture, and create a new medical cannabis recognition card.
- Pay a $1 fee required from cardholders when their card is created. The medically endorsed store collects the fee and pays it to the Department of Health.
- Changed your mind?
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If you choose to no longer have an active medical cannabis recognition card or would like to revoke your designated provider, you may complete the Revocation Request form (Word) and mail it to the address at the top of the form. Be sure to notify any designated provider you revoke from the database.
- Authorized patients not entered into the database
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- Patients and designated providers who hold valid authorizations but aren't entered into the database may purchase only in accordance with the laws and rules for non-patients.
- They will have an affirmative defense to criminal prosecution if they possess no more than four plants and six ounces of usable cannabis.
- Who can access database information
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The medical cannabis authorization database is a secure system. State law (RCW 69.51A.230) strictly limits who can view database information and how the information can be used. Only the following people can see information from the database for the following purposes:
Access their patients' health care information from the database:
- Authorizing health care practitioners.
- Practitioners authorized to prescribe or dispense controlled substances.
Add patient information from the authorization form:
- Certified medical cannabis consultants working in a medically endorsed cannabis store.
Provide administration or get reports:
- Database administrator – data maintenance and store support.
- Washington State Department of Health – ensure compliance.
- Washington State Department of Revenue – sales tax-free reports.
- Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board – aggregate data reports.
Verify that a card is valid:
- Law enforcement.
- Employee working in a medically endorsed cannabis store.
Non-disclosure
In addition, records in the medical cannabis authorization database containing names and other personally identifiable information of qualifying patients and designated providers are exempt from disclosure under RCW 42.56.625.