How To Get A Medical Marijuana Card In Washington State

You do not need to carry a medical marijuana card to legally use medical marijuana in the state of Washington. If you are a qualifying patient, all you need is a written recommendation from your health provider. If you have been told by a clinic that you must purchase a card or permit from them — this is not true. There are groups or clinics in Washington that may charge a fee for you to see a doctor, but you are not required to visit a certain clinic or join an organization to get a medical marijuana recommendation from a health care provider.

Medical Marijuana Use in Washington State: Qualifying medical conditions

Cancer
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Multiple sclerosis
Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
Spasticity disorders
Intractable pain, (that is pain unrelieved by standard medical treatments and medications)
Glaucoma, either acute or chronic (increased intraocular pressure unrelieved by standard treatments and medications)
Crohn’s disease with debilitating symptoms unrelieved by standard treatments or medications
Hepatitis C with debilitating nausea or intractable pain unrelieved by standard treatments or medications
Diseases, including anorexia, resulting in the following symptoms which are unrelieved by standard treatments or medications:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Wasting
- Appetite loss
- Cramping
- Seizures
- Muscle spasms
- Spasticity
- Any other medical condition duly approved by the Washington state medical quality assurance commission in consultation with the board of osteopathic medicine and surgery.

Anyone may petition the commission to add a condition to the list. By law, the commission will consult with the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery. For more information about this process, you may contact the commission at: Medical Quality Assurance Commission, PO Box 47866, Olympia WA 98504-7866

Medical Marijuana Use in Washington State: Authorized Health Care Providers

The following providers may recommend marijuana:

Medical Doctors (MDs)
Physician Assistants (PAs)
Osteopathic Physicians (DOs)
Osteopathic Physician Assistants (OA)
Naturopathic Physicians (ND)
Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNPs)

Health care providers licensed in another state may not recommend marijuana; the law says the health care provider must be licensed in Washington. The Department of Health does not keep information on health providers who are known to recommend marijuana as a medication.

Medical Marijuana Use in Washington State: Valid Written Recommendation

Beginning June 10, 2010, a recommendation must be written on tamper-resistant paper. It must also include an original signature by the health care provider, a date, and a statement that says in the health care provider’s professional opinion the patient may benefit from the medical use of marijuana. The 2010 law change also prohibits the use of a copy of the patient’s medical records in lieu of a recommendation.

Medical Marijuana Use in Washington State: Obtaining Marijuana

The law does not allow dispensaries, neither does it allow for the buying or selling of cannabis. Washington State law does allow a qualifying patient or designated provider to grow medical marijuana.

A qualifying patient and a designated provider may possess a total of no more than twenty-four ounces of useable marijuana, and no more than fifteen plants.
Useable marijuana” means the dried leaves and flowers of the Cannabis plant family Moraceae. Useable marijuana excludes stems, stalks, seeds and roots.
Plant” means any marijuana plant in any stage of growth
The given amounts represent the total amount of marijuana that may be held between both patient and designated provider
A designated provider must be at least 18 years old and must be designated in writing by the qualifying patient
A designated provider can only be a provider for one patient at any one time
The law does not say that a patient may or may not also be a designated provider
It does say that a designated provider may not consume a qualifying patient’s medical marijuana

Medical Marijuana Use in Washington State: Designated Provider

A designated provider must be at least 18 years old and must be designated in writing by the qualifying patient
A designated provider can only be a provider for one patient at any one time
The law does not say that a patient may or may not also be a designated provider
It does say that a designated provider may not consume a qualifying patient’s medical marijuana

Medical Marijuana Use Outside of Washington State

Some states may allow you to use your recommendation from Washington when traveling. You must comply with the laws in the other state. Doctor recommendations, ID cards, and other documentation from other states are not legal in Washington.