Program Overview
The Cannabis Patient Protection Act (SB 5052) (PDF) passed in April of 2015 and went into full effect on July 1, 2016. SB 5052 creates strict regulations for cannabis producers, processors and stores that want to sell to medical cannabis patients.
Under the act, the Department of Health was directed to adopt rules and develop a program focused on three areas:
- Product compliance - Under chapter 246-70 WAC, we set standards for cannabis products that may be beneficial for medical use.
- Medical Cannabis Registry - Under chapter 246-71 WAC, we oversee administration and maintenance of the patient registry.
- Medical Cannabis Certified Consultants – Under chapter 246-72 WAC, we set training and certification requirements for medical cannabis consultants.
Data and Statistics
- Updated May 2025
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The following statistics are reported by the medical cannabis database administrator and the agency's credentialing office.
Recognition Cards Created from the Database
Total Cards Created: 146,543
Cards Created so far in 2025: 5,990
* Numbers account for each card generated from the database (initial, renewal, replacement, and corrections) and includes both patient and designated providers.
* System went live in July 1, 2016. Except for 2016 and 2025, all years contain four quarters of data. 2025 includes data from Quarter 1 (January–March).
Medical Cannabis Certified Consultants with Active Credential
- Total applications received to date: 3,118
- Certified consultants with an active credential: 683
Licensed Cannabis Retail Stores with Medical Endorsement
- Total number of medically-endorsed stores: 298 out of 453** licensed. Of all licensed cannabis retailers, 66 percent hold a medical endorsement.
- Total Number of medically-endorsed stores that have issued a card in the last quarter: 193
Contact and Connect
Contact information and resources
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