Healthcare Practitioner Frequently Asked Questions

Please see our Healthcare Practitioner webpage for general information about authorizing the medical use of cannabis. Important highlights: 

• Review the professional practice standards established by the regulating Boards and Commissions:
  • Medical Cannabis Authorization Guidelines (PDF)
  • Medical Cannabis Authorization Guidelines (Washington Medical Commission)

• Use the correct tamper-resistant paper. The authorization is not a prescription and must be printed on a vendor-provided tamper-resistant paper containing the RCW 69.51A.030 logo in the lower-right corner of the paper. We do not keep a list of paper vendors. Please inquire with your current paper vendor or do an internet search to find one.

  • Guidance for a Valid Medical Cannabis Authorization Form (PDF) 

• Complete the current Medical Cannabis Authorization form and give it to the patient (and designated provider, if any).  Older versions of the form are acceptable if they use the term “cannabis” and not “marijuana”.
  • Medical Cannabis Authorization Form (PDF) (for practitioner use only 

The authorization is not a prescription and must be printed on a vendor-provided tamper-resistant paper containing the RCW 69.51A.030 logo in the lower-right corner of the paper. We do not keep a list of paper vendors. Please inquire with your current paper vendor or do an internet search to find a vendor who publishes Washington State Medical Cannabis Authorization Tamper-resistant paper.

Guidance for a Valid Medical Cannabis Authorization Form (PDF) 

A designated provider (DP) is someone 21 years or older who has agreed to be the patient’s DP or, for patients under age 18, is the patient’s parent or legal guardian. The DP may assist the patient with purchasing cannabis products, growing cannabis plants on their behalf, and renewing a patient card if they have a compassionate care renewal indicated on their authorization form.   

For a DP to provide this assistance, you must issue them an authorization identical to the patient’s. If they cannot attend the patient’s appointment, you can coordinate a different time to issue the DP’s authorization.

The initial visit must be in person. You may renew the authorization through telemedicine if you determine that renewing your patient’s authorization in person would cause them severe hardship due to their health condition. RCW 69.51A.030(2)(b)(ii) and RCW 69.51A.030(2)(c)(iii).

No registration or additional certification is required if your profession’s laws allow you to authorize. These are the approved types of healthcare practitioner:

• Medical doctor (MD) licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW
• Osteopathic physician (DO) licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW
• Physician assistant (PA) licensed under chapter 18.71A RCW
• Naturopathic physician licensed under chapter 18.36A RCW
• Advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW

No. The law does not require you to authorize the medical use of cannabis for a patient. RCW 69.51A.060.

For a patient eighteen years of age or older, one year after issuance. For a patient less than eighteen years of age, six months after issuance. RCW 69.51A.030(2)(c)(i).

Please review our Patient Information page and Patient Frequently Asked Questions. You’ll find important information there to support your practice when authorizing medical cannabis. 

State law establishes immunity against prosecution for healthcare practitioners who appropriately authorize the medical use of cannabis. Failure to follow state law could result in prosecution by legal authorities or disciplinary action by your licensing authority. You may also incur penalties from privileging hospitals, medical malpractice insurers or certification boards. 

Note: Immunity is not extended to federal prosecution, as cannabis remains illegal under federal law.