History of cannabis in Washington goes back to 1923 when motivated by the rest of the USA, this Pacific Northwest state also outlawed the crop.
The following passages will shed light on the marijuana and hemp laws of Washington.
Marijuana in Washington
In 2012, Washington became the 1st state to legalize adult-use marijuana. Today, a state resident can carry up to an ounce of dried weed without any objection—although, public consumption is not allowed, and is penalized by $100 fine. The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board governs and regulates the industry in the U.S. Capital.
However, the liberty to smoke weed privately doesn’t translate into its trafficking. If the intent to distribution is established, a felon possessing more than 40k of cannabis is looking at 5 years in the joint.
The state registered whopping revenues of $1.2 billion in 2018 and is slated to earn $1.5 billion by 2022.
Medical Marijuana
A while ago, the Evergreen State’s medical marijuana program was eventually merged into its recreational one to allow medical cardholders to obtain tax-free weed at specific retail spots. Today, the program serves about 31,000 registered patients, who are governed by the Washington State Department of Health.
These registered individuals can obtain up to 48 ounces of cannabis-infused products and three ounces of dried marijuana. Also, they can privately plant up to six plants for their own medical cannabis requirements.
CBD Oil Laws in Washington
The Washington SB 6206 of 2016 legitimized the plantation of industrial hemp in compliance with the federal legislation mandating such endeavors as part of a state-approved hemp program. The next year, the approval of HB 2064 removed industrial hemp from Washington’s Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Nonetheless, the limited nature of the state’s hemp policies allowed mere cultivation of 142 acreages in 2018.
In April 2019, Washington’s lukewarm industrial hemp industry received a massive boost after Gov. Inslee signed a new and comprehensive industrial hemp growing program. Of course, the state’s change of heart has much to do with the approval of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018. The agricultural community is expecting a gigantic surge in production and eventual retailing after the promulgation of the new expansive program.
Conclusion
Washington was the first U.S. state to legalize adult-use marijuana. Today, a state resident can carry up to an ounce of dried weed without any objection—although, public consumption is not allowed, and is penalized by $100 fine. However, if intent to distribution is established, a felon possessing more than 40k of cannabis is looking at 5 years in jail. The state registered walloping revenues of $1.2 billion in 2018 and is set to earn $1.5 billion by 2022.
The Washington medical marijuana program was made a part of the recreational one to allow 31,000 registered patients to obtain tax-free weed at specific retail spots. Lastly, in April 2019, Washington’s Gov. Inslee signed a comprehensive industrial hemp growing program to bring state’s hemp revenues at par with the leading U.S. states in the next five years.
