Becoming a Patient in Washington

To become a medical cannabis patient patent in Wasington, start by making an appointment with your healthcare provider. Once they have certified that you have one of the eligible conditions listed below, they will authorize medical cannabis treatment. When you have a doctor's authorization, visit a dispensary with a medical endorsement from the state; there is a certified consultant on staff who will fill out an application with your help. 

Eligible conditions:

If you are diagnosed with one of the following conditions, you may be eligible for physician certification as a patient in Washington:

• Cancer
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
• Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
• Spasticity disorders
• Intractable pain, unrelieved by standard treatments and medications
• Glaucoma (acute or chronic), unrelieved by standard treatments and medications
• Crohn's disease with debilitating symptoms, unrelieved by standard treatments and medications
• Hepatitis C with debilitating nausea or intractable pain, unrelieved by standard treatments and medications
• Diseases, including anorexia, which cause nausea, vomiting, wasting, appetite loss, cramping, seizures, muscle spasms or spasticity, unrelieved by standard treatments or medications
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Traumatic brain injury

Becoming a Patient as a Minor:

If you are under the age of 18 and wish to become a patient, you must ensure that a parent or legal guardian consents to medical use of cannabis. As a minor patient, your parent or legal guardian must also act as the designated provider who will acquire cannabis on your behalf, they will also monitor and control your dosage.

Benefits of Being a Patient:

As a registered patient in Washington you will have an affirmative defense in court if you are arrested for the possession of cannabis. You will also be legally protected from discrimination based on your cannabis use in a child custody hearing. An employer will not be allowed to fire you on the basis of your enrollment in the program. You will not be denied an organ transplant based on your cannabis use. Landlords cannot evict you on the basis of your medical cannabis use.

Becoming a Designated Provider:

If you wish to become a provider in Wasington, you must be 21 years of age or older. You must be either: The parent or legal guardian of a qualifying patient that is a minor and must hold a recognition card; or designated in writing by the qualifying patient (if over 18 years of age) to serve as a designated provider. To get started you'll need to obtain either: An individual authorization from the patient's authorizing health care professional separate from the patient; or a recognition card, after being entered into the medical marijuana authorization database as a designated provider. You may only be a designated provider for a single patient at any one time.

Out of State Patients:

For more information about traveling as a medical cannabis patient, check out our Travel Guide.

Home Cultivation:

As a patient, you will be allowed to grow up to six mature plants at home. If more than one patient lives in a single house, there may be no more than 15 mature plants grown at a time. Your plants must be in a secure location out of sight from the public.