Database Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I register in the database to get my medical cannabis recognition card?
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Patients who have received a medical cannabis authorization from their healthcare practitioner may schedule an appointment with a medical cannabis consultant (consultant) at a medically-endorsed store.
The patient will be required to bring a state-issued photographic identification (i.e. driver license) and their medical cannabis authorization with them to the appointment. The consultant will enter the information from the patient's authorization into the database and create and issue a recognition card for the patient and their designated provider, if the patient has one.
- Am I required to be registered into database if I have an authorization from my doctor?
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Registration is voluntary for adult patients (age 18 and older); but required for minor patients, (under 18) and their designated provider (parent/legal guardian).
- If I do not register in the database, what is the medical authorization used for?
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An adult patient who has a valid medical cannabis authorization (authorization) from their healthcare practitioner, but is not registered in the medical cannabis authorization database (database) and does not have a recognition card:
- may grow up to four plants and possess up to six ounces of useable cannabis for personal medical use within his or her domicile per RCW 69.51A.210 .
- may purchase from any licensed retail store the amounts established in RCW 69.50.360.
- may raise the affirmative defense if meeting criteria outlined in RCW 69.51A.043.
Important: If renting, patients should consider checking with property management for additional restrictions relating to growing or using cannabis.
- What are the benefits of being registered in the medical cannabis authorization database?
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A patient or their designated provider on the patient's behalf, who is registered in the database and has an active recognition card may:
- purchase products from a medically-endorsed retail store sales tax free under RCW 82.08.9998 and RCW 82.12.9998.
- purchase up to three times the current limits when products are purchased from a medically-endorsed retail store under RCW 69.51A.230
- purchase high-THC compliant products defined under WAC 246-70-040.
- if specified on the patient's authorization, may grow up to 15 plants and possess up to 16 ounces of useable cannabis for personal medical use within his or her domicile under RCW 69.51A.210.
- participate in a registered medical cannabis cooperative (see a Patient's Guide to Medical Cannabis Cooperatives to learn more).
- may have arrest protection for increased purchasing and possession amounts under RCW 69.51A.040
- purchase immature plants, clones and seeds from a state licensed producer under RCW 69.51A.310
Database Frequently Asked Questions
Am I automatically entered into the database now that I have a medical cannabis authorization from my doctor?
Do I have to join the medical cannabis authorization database in order to be recognized as a patient?
How many plants may I grow if I am entered into the database?
May my spouse and I both grow our authorized 15 plants each at our house?
What taxes are saved if I am entered into the database?
May I purchase a gun if I am a medical cannabis patient in the database?
Do the courts have to let me continue to use cannabis if I am in the database and have a recognition card?
Does my landlord have to let me use or grow cannabis if I am in the database and have a recognition card?
Does my employer have to let me skip random drug testing if I am a patient in the database?
I am 18 and have an authorization from my doctor. Do I have to have a designated provider in order to be entered into the medical cannabis database?
Can federal authorities see that I'm in the database?
If I join the database, will I lose my social services – such as housing and food assistance?
What if I don't want to be in the database anymore?
How do I remove my designated provider from the database?
Am I automatically entered into the database now that I have a medical cannabis authorization from my doctor?
No. To get entered into the medical cannabis authorization database, you must take your authorization form to any licensed and medically endorsed retail cannabis store. A certified consultant will enter your information into the database and create your medical cannabis recognition card.
Do I have to join the medical cannabis authorization database in order to be recognized as a patient?
No. As a patient with an authorization form, you are legally allowed to grow four plants. However, you will not receive the benefits of being a patient with a recognition card. When purchasing products, you will be treated like any adult age 21 and older.
How many plants may I grow if I am entered into the database?
A qualifying patient entered into the medical cannabis database is automatically authorized to grow six plants. A healthcare practitioner may authorize up to 15 plants on the authorization. In order for the authorization of more than six plants to be valid, the healthcare practitioner must sign the form a second time.
May my spouse and I both grow our authorized 15 plants each at our house?
No more than 15 plants may be grown in one household (see chapter 69.51A.260 RCW). You may, however, register as a cooperative with the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (see chapter 69.51A.250 RCW). This allows you to have up to four patients (or their designated provider) with a maximum of 60 plants if authorized by each patient's healthcare practitioner to grow 15 plants each.
What taxes do I save if I'm entered into the database?
The tax savings for patients entered into the database and purchasing products from a medically endorsed cannabis store is state sales and use (see chapter 82.08.9998 RCW and chapter 82.12.9998 RCW). You may search for the specific percentage of these taxes in your area on the Department of Revenue's website.
May I purchase a gun if I am a medical cannabis patient in the database?
The medical cannabis authorization database is in no way connected to any other system and does not affect your right to purchase or carry a gun. However, under federal law, cannabis possession is illegal for both recreational and medical use. The federal law affects gun ownership. It is unlawful for a firearms dealer to sell or give a gun to a person who uses or is addicted to a controlled substance that is illegal under federal law.
Do the courts have to let me continue to use cannabis if I am in the database and have a recognition card?
No. Nothing in law diminishes the authority of correctional agencies and departments, including local governments or jails, to establish a procedure for determining when the use of cannabis would affect community safety or the effective supervision of those on active supervision for a criminal conviction, nor does it create the right to any accommodation of any medical use of cannabis in any correctional facility or jail (see chapter 69.51A.005 RCW).
Does my landlord have to let me use or grow cannabis if I am in the database and have a recognition card?
No. As a tenant you have no legal right to grow or smoke cannabis even if you are medically authorized and have a recognition card. It is at the discretion of the landlord as to whether you receive that permission within the lease agreement. Under the federal Fair Housing Act, housing providers are ordinarily obligated to provide reasonable accommodations for tenants with disabilities to ensure that they have the full use and enjoyment of their homes. However, the federal Fair Housing Act reasonable accommodation provisions exclude from protection the current use of a "controlled substance" under federal law. Even though medical cannabis is legal under Washington law, it is not legal under federal law.
Does my employer have to let me skip random drug testing if I am a patient in the database?
No. Employers may establish drug-free work policies. Nothing in the law requires an accommodation for the medical use of cannabis if an employer has a drug-free workplace (see chapter 69.51A.060 RCW).
I am 18 and have an authorization from my doctor. Do I have to have a designated provider in order to be entered into the medical cannabis database?
No. Qualifying patients ages 18 to 20 years who have a valid photo ID and authorization form may enter a medically endorsed store for the purpose of being entered into the Medical Cannabis Authorization Database and getting their recognition card without having a designated provider. After they get a card, they may enter and purchase at only medically endorsed stores.
Can federal authorities see that I'm in the database?
No. Information contained in the medical cannabis authorization database shall not be shared with the federal government or its agents unless the particular qualifying patient or designated provider is convicted in state court for violating the law (see chapter 69.51A.230 RCW).
If I join the database, will I lose my social services – such as housing and food assistance?
No. There is no way for either federal or state social services agencies to search the medical cannabis database to see if you are a patient. The only way they may find out is if you reported to them that you are a patient in the database.
What if I don't want to be in the database anymore?
If you choose to no longer have your information accessible in the database, you may complete the Revocation Request form (Word) and mail it to the address at the top of the form. If you choose to revoke your authorization form, we recommend that you notify your healthcare practitioner that you no longer want to be a medical cannabis patient.
How do I remove my designated provider from the database?
If you choose to no longer have your designated provider purchasing or growing for you, and want to have that person removed from the database, you may complete the Revocation Request form (Word) and mail it to the address at the top of the form. We recommend that you notify your healthcare practitioner that you no longer have a designated provider, as well as notifying the designated provider that he or she has been removed from the database.