Verify · Washington
Washington cannabis rules: what to know and how to check
In Washington, adults 21 and older can buy cannabis from stores licensed by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB). Check the store on LCB’s license list or map before you buy. Licensed products must be lab-tested and labeled, and LCB posts recall notices. Home grow is allowed only for medical patients, and stores may not deliver.
Checked against the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB), the Washington State Department of Health and Washington law on . Next review: .
CHSA does not test, certify or endorse products or retailers.
Official source
Washington’s cannabis regulator: Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB)
- Check a business license Official license list
- See official recalls Recall notices from the regulator
- File a complaint Report an unlicensed business or a problem
- Regulator website Laws, rules and news
These links go to the regulator’s own website. CHSA does not copy or host license records, so you always see the official, current version.
What’s different in Washington
Washington voters passed Initiative 502 in 2012, and licensed stores opened in 2014. The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) licenses growers, processors and stores and posts recall notices. The Department of Health (DOH) runs the medical cannabis registry and sets the stricter standards for medical products.
Growing cannabis at home is not allowed for adult use. Only medical patients and their designated providers with a valid authorization may grow a small number of plants. Legal stores may not deliver or ship. You can order ahead online, but you pay and pick up at the store.
Using cannabis in public, or opening a package where the public can see, is against state law. That includes parks and federal land. In a car, keep cannabis sealed in its original package in the trunk. The glove box does not count. Cities and counties can ban licensed cannabis businesses, so stores are not found everywhere.
Hemp products follow the same line. Since July 2023, only licensed cannabis stores may sell products with any detectable THC to consumers. That includes hemp-made and lab-made THC, like delta-8 THC, sold in smoke shops, gas stations or online.
Licensed does not mean risk-free. Products are lab-tested before sale, and LCB has recalled licensed products for pesticides and heavy metals.
Washington rules at a glance
These are the main state rules for adult-use cannabis, with medical notes where they differ. Cities and counties can add their own rules. Numbers in brackets link to the law or the regulator’s guidance.
| Topic | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 21 and older for adult use. Medical patients 18 to 20 must be in the state registry with a recognition card and may buy only at stores with a medical endorsement. Patients under 18 need a parent or guardian as their designated provider. | Source [1] RCW 69.50.4013(5); DOH patient FAQ |
| How much you can have | Adults 21 and older may buy and have up to 1 ounce of useable cannabis (dried flower), 16 ounces of solid cannabis edibles, 72 ounces of cannabis drinks and other liquids, and 7 grams of concentrate. Registered medical patients may buy up to three times those amounts at medically endorsed stores. | Source [2] RCW 69.50.360(3); RCW 69.50.4013(3)(a); WAC 314-55-095(2)(d) |
| Growing at home | Not allowed for adult use. Growing or having cannabis plants without a state license or medical authorization is a felony. Medical patients with an authorization may grow 4 plants, or 6 if they are in the registry with a recognition card (up to 15 if their health care practitioner allows it). No more than 15 plants per home. | Source [3] LCB "Growing Cannabis at Home"; HB 1449 bill report (background); DOH patient information page |
| Delivery | Not allowed. Licensed stores may not sell online, ship or deliver cannabis. You may place an online order for pickup, but you must pay for it at the store. A website offering shipping or home delivery is likely not legal. | Source [4] WAC 314-55-079(5); RCW 69.50.360(3); LCB "Is it a Legal Product? How to Know" |
| Required lab tests | Before sale, a lab authorized by LCB and accredited by the Washington State Department of Agriculture must test it for water activity, THC and CBD, foreign matter, microbes, mycotoxins, pesticides and leftover solvents. Heavy metals are not on the required list for adult-use products. Medical products that meet DOH standards have stricter testing, which can include heavy metals. | Source [5] WAC 314-55-102(1)(a)-(b), (2)(c); DOH product compliance page |
| Labels | Labels must show the cannabis universal symbol, total THC and total CBD, the lot number and the names of the grower and processor. They must say "Warning - May be habit forming" and "Unlawful outside Washington State", plus a warning about driving. Edibles must also say effects may be delayed by 2+ hours and list ingredients and allergens. You can ask the store for the lab's name and test results. | Source [6] WAC 314-55-105(2)-(5), (9)-(10); WAC 314-55-106(2) |
| Packaging | Edibles, drinks and concentrates must come in child-resistant packaging or thick heat-sealed plastic. Drinks with more than one serving need a resealable cap and a measuring device. Edibles and other products you swallow must carry the Washington Poison Center "Not for kids" symbol. Packages and labels must not be especially appealing to people under 21, such as with cartoons. | Source [6] WAC 314-55-105(1)(c), (2)(b), (3)(b), (4)(b); WAC 314-55-106(1) |
| Edible THC limits | Up to 10 mg of THC per serving and 100 mg per package for edibles and other products you swallow. A single unit of concentrate can't be more than 1 gram. Some medical products that meet DOH standards may have up to 50 mg per serving and are sold only to registered patients. | Source [7] WAC 314-55-095(1)(a)-(c); DOH product compliance page (High THC) |
| Poison control | Washington Poison Center: 1-800-222-1222 . Free, confidential, 24/7. Call 911 if someone has trouble breathing or won’t wake up. | www.wapc.org |
Washington recalls
LCB posts recall notices for licensed products. CHSA doesn’t keep a live list of Washington recalls yet, so check LCB’s own list.
Keep the package. A recall notice lists the product and its batch or ID number, which you match against your label.
How Washington compares
Compare Washington with the other states CHSA covers.
Sources
- RCW 69.50.4013: Possession of controlled substances and of useable cannabis
- RCW 69.50.360: Cannabis retailers, employees of retail outlets
- Growing Cannabis at Home
- WAC 314-55-079: Cannabis retailer license: privileges, requirements, and fees
- WAC 314-55-102: Quality assurance and quality control
- WAC 314-55-105: Cannabis product packaging and labeling
- WAC 314-55-095: Cannabis servings and transaction limitations
- Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board home page
- Is it a Legal Product? How to Know
- Frequently Requested Lists (Cannabis License Applicants)
- Retail Cannabis Locations (map)
- Using and Having Cannabis
- RCW 69.50.445: Opening or consuming cannabis in view of the public or in a public place
- House Bill Report, HB 1449 (2025): home cultivation of cannabis
- Understanding Test Results
- Reading a Product Label
- WAC 314-55-106: Cannabis warning symbol requirement
- Notice of Cannabis Recalls
- Hemp-Derived and Synthetic THC Products: Legal?
- SB 5367 (2023-24): Concerning the regulation of products containing THC
- AGO 2014 No. 2: Whether I-502 preempts local ordinances
- Report a Violation
- Medical Cannabis (LCB)
- Medical Cannabis (program overview and data)
- Medical Cannabis Information for Patients and Consumers
- Medical Cannabis Patient Frequently Asked Questions
- Medical Cannabis Product Compliance
- Washington Poison Center
CHSA does not test, certify or endorse products or retailers.