Call Olympia Today on Lobby Day, and ask about Home Grows

     Even if you can’t make it to Olympia today, you can call or email Representatives and Senators. A good question to ask is “Why they were unable to pass home grows in Washington?”

Member Name	Party	District	Position	Room	Phone	Email	Chamber
Jan Angel	R	26		INB 203	(360) 786-7650	Jan.Angel@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Sherry Appleton	D	23	1	LEG 132F	(360) 786-7934	Sherry.Appleton@leg.wa.gov	House
Barbara Bailey	R	10		LEG 407	(360) 786-7618	Barbara.Bailey@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Andrew Barkis	R	2	1	LEG 122D	(360) 786-7824	Andrew.Barkis@leg.wa.gov	House
Michael Baumgartner	R	6		LEG 404	(360) 786-7610	Michael.Baumgartner@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Randi Becker	R	2		LEG 316	(360) 786-7602	Randi.Becker@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Steve Bergquist	D	11	2	JLOB 322	(360) 786-7862	Steve.Bergquist@leg.wa.gov	House
Andy Billig	D	3		LEG 412	(360) 786-7604	Andy.Billig@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Brian Blake	D	19	2	LEG 437A	(360) 786-7870	Brian.Blake@leg.wa.gov	House
John Braun	R	20		LEG 403A	(360) 786-7638	John.Braun@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Sharon Brown	R	8		INB 202	(360) 786-7614	Sharon.Brown@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Vincent Buys	R	42	2	JLOB 465	(360) 786-7854	Vincent.Buys@leg.wa.gov	House
Michelle Caldier	R	26	2	LEG 122G	(360) 786-7802	Michelle.Caldier@leg.wa.gov	House
Reuven Carlyle	D	36		JAC 233	(360) 786-7670	Reuven.Carlyle@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Bruce Chandler	R	15	1	LEG 427B	(360) 786-7960	Bruce.Chandler@leg.wa.gov	House
Mike Chapman	D	24	1	LEG 132B	(360) 786-7916	Mike.Chapman@leg.wa.gov	House
Maralyn Chase	D	32		JAC 224	(360) 786-7662	Maralyn.Chase@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Frank Chopp	D	43	2	LEG 339C	(360) 786-7920	Frank.Chopp@leg.wa.gov	House
Annette Cleveland	D	49		JAC 220	(360) 786-7696	Annette.Cleveland@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Judy Clibborn	D	41	2	JLOB 415	(360) 786-7926	Judy.Clibborn@leg.wa.gov	House
Eileen Cody	D	34	1	JLOB 303	(360) 786-7978	Eileen.Cody@leg.wa.gov	House
Cary Condotta	R	12	1	LEG 425B	(360) 786-7954	Cary.Condotta@leg.wa.gov	House
Steve Conway	D	29		JAC 241	(360) 786-7656	Steve.Conway@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Jeannie Darneille	D	27		JAC 237	(360) 786-7652	Jeannie.Darneille@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Richard DeBolt	R	20	1	LEG 425A	(360) 786-7896	Richard.DeBolt@leg.wa.gov	House
Tom Dent	R	13	1	JLOB 437	(360) 786-7932	Tom.Dent@leg.wa.gov	House
Manka Dhingra	D	45		JAC 239	(360) 786-7672	Manka.Dhingra@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Beth Doglio	D	22	2	JLOB 317	(360) 786-7992	Beth.Doglio@leg.wa.gov	House
Laurie Dolan	D	22	1	JLOB 318	(360) 786-7940	Laurie.Dolan@leg.wa.gov	House
Mary Dye	R	9	1	JLOB 432	(360) 786-7942	Mary.Dye@leg.wa.gov	House
Doug Ericksen	R	42		LEG 414	(360) 786-7682	Doug.Ericksen@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Carolyn Eslick	R	39	2	JLOB 409	(360) 786-7816	Carolyn.Eslick@leg.wa.gov	House
Joe Fain	R	47		LEG 416	(360) 786-7692	Joe.Fain@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Jake Fey	D	27	2	JLOB 414	(360) 786-7974	Jake.Fey@leg.wa.gov	House
Joe Fitzgibbon	D	34	2	JLOB 305	(360) 786-7952	Joe.Fitzgibbon@leg.wa.gov	House
Phil Fortunato	R	31		INB 201	(360) 786-7660	phil.fortunato@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Noel Frame	D	36	1	JLOB 319	(360) 786-7814	Noel.Frame@leg.wa.gov	House
David Frockt	D	46		JAC 227	(360) 786-7690	David.Frockt@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Roger Goodman	D	45	1	LEG 436B	(360) 786-7878	Roger.Goodman@leg.wa.gov	House
Paul Graves	R	5	2	LEG 122B	(360) 786-7876	Paul.Graves@leg.wa.gov	House
Mia Gregerson	D	33	2	JLOB 328	(360) 786-7868	Mia.Gregerson@leg.wa.gov	House
Dan Griffey	R	35	1	JLOB 410	(360) 786-7966	Dan.Griffey@leg.wa.gov	House
Larry Haler	R	8	2	LEG 122H	(360) 786-7986	Larry.Haler@leg.wa.gov	House
Drew Hansen	D	23	2	JLOB 370	(360) 786-7842	Drew.Hansen@leg.wa.gov	House
Mark Hargrove	R	47	1	JLOB 436	(360) 786-7918	Mark.Hargrove@leg.wa.gov	House
Mark Harmsworth	R	44	2	JLOB 466	(360) 786-7892	Mark.Harmsworth@leg.wa.gov	House
Paul Harris	R	17	2	JLOB 403	(360) 786-7976	Paul.Harris@leg.wa.gov	House
Bob Hasegawa	D	11		JAC 223	(360) 786-7616	Bob.Hasegawa@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Brad Hawkins	R	12		INB 107	(360) 786-7622	Brad.Hawkins@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Dave Hayes	R	10	2	JLOB 467	(360) 786-7914	Dave.Hayes@leg.wa.gov	House
Steve Hobbs	D	44		JAC 305	(360) 786-7686	Steve.Hobbs@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Jeff Holy	R	6	2	JLOB 405	(360) 786-7962	Jeff.Holy@leg.wa.gov	House
Jim Honeyford	R	15		INB 112	(360) 786-7684	Jim.Honeyford@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Zack Hudgins	D	11	1	LEG 438A	(360) 786-7956	Zack.Hudgins@leg.wa.gov	House
Sam Hunt	D	22		LEG 405	(360) 786-7642	Sam.Hunt@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Morgan Irwin	R	31	2	JLOB 430	(360) 786-7866	Morgan.Irwin@leg.wa.gov	House
Bill Jenkin	R	16	1	JLOB 417	(360) 786-7836	Bill.Jenkin@leg.wa.gov	House
Laurie Jinkins	D	27	1	JLOB 308	(360) 786-7930	Laurie.Jinkins@leg.wa.gov	House
Norm Johnson	R	14	1	LEG 122C	(360) 786-7810	Norm.Johnson@leg.wa.gov	House
Ruth Kagi	D	32	2	JLOB 320	(360) 786-7910	Ruth.Kagi@leg.wa.gov	House
Karen Keiser	D	33		JAC 219	(360) 786-7664	Karen.Keiser@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Christine Kilduff	D	28	2	JLOB 334	(360) 786-7958	Christine.Kilduff@leg.wa.gov	House
Curtis King	R	14		INB 115	(360) 786-7626	Curtis.King@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Steve Kirby	D	29	2	LEG 437B	(360) 786-7996	Steve.Kirby@leg.wa.gov	House
Brad Klippert	R	8	1	LEG 122A	(360) 786-7882	Brad.Klippert@leg.wa.gov	House
Shelley Kloba	D	1	2	LEG 132A	(360) 786-7900	Shelley.Kloba@leg.wa.gov	House
Vicki Kraft	R	17	1	JLOB 418	(360) 786-7994	Vicki.Kraft@leg.wa.gov	House
Joel Kretz	R	7	2	LEG 335A	(360) 786-7988	Joel.Kretz@leg.wa.gov	House
Dan Kristiansen	R	39	1	LEG 335C	(360) 786-7967	Dan.Kristiansen@leg.wa.gov	House
Patty Kuderer	D	48		LEG 411	(360) 786-7694	Kuderer.Patty@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Marko Liias	D	21		LEG 309	(360) 786-7640	Marko.Liias@leg.wa.gov	Senate
John Lovick	D	44	1	LEG 429B	(360) 786-7804	John.Lovick@leg.wa.gov	House
Kristine Lytton	D	40	1	JLOB 368	(360) 786-7800	Kristine.Lytton@leg.wa.gov	House
Drew MacEwen	R	35	2	JLOB 434	(360) 786-7902	Drew.MacEwen@leg.wa.gov	House
Nicole Macri	D	43	1	JLOB 311	(360) 786-7826	Nicole.Macri@leg.wa.gov	House
Matt Manweller	R	13	2	JLOB 470	(360) 786-7808	Matt.Manweller@leg.wa.gov	House
Jacquelin Maycumber	R	7	1	JLOB 411	(360) 786-7908	Jacquelin.Maycumber@leg.wa.gov	House
Joan McBride	D	48	2	JLOB 335	(360) 786-7848	Joan.McBride@leg.wa.gov	House
Gina McCabe	R	14	2	JLOB 431	(360) 786-7856	Gina.McCabe@leg.wa.gov	House
Bob McCaslin	R	4	2	JLOB 425	(360) 786-7820	Bob.McCaslin@leg.wa.gov	House
John McCoy	D	38		LEG 305	(360) 786-7674	John.McCoy@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Joyce McDonald	R	25	2	JLOB 406	(360) 786-7968	Joyce.McDonald@leg.wa.gov	House
Mark Miloscia	R	30		INB 105	(360) 786-7658	Mark.Miloscia@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Jeff Morris	D	40	2	LEG 436A	(360) 786-7970	Jeff.Morris@leg.wa.gov	House
Mark Mullet	D	5		LEG 415	(360) 786-7608	Mark.Mullet@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Dick Muri	R	28	1	JLOB 424	(360) 786-7890	Dick.Muri@leg.wa.gov	House
Terry Nealey	R	16	2	JLOB 404	(360) 786-7828	Terry.Nealey@leg.wa.gov	House
Sharon Nelson	D	34		LEG 307	(360) 786-7667	Sharon.Nelson@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Steve O'Ban	R	28		INB 102	(360) 786-7654	Steve.OBan@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Ed Orcutt	R	20	2	JLOB 408	(360) 786-7990	Ed.Orcutt@leg.wa.gov	House
Timm Ormsby	D	3	2	JLOB 315	(360) 786-7946	Timm.Ormsby@leg.wa.gov	House
Lillian Ortiz-Self	D	21	2	JLOB 330	(360) 786-7972	Lillian.Ortiz-Self@leg.wa.gov	House
Tina Orwall	D	33	1	JLOB 326	(360) 786-7834	Tina.Orwall@leg.wa.gov	House
Mike Padden	R	4		INB 106	(360) 786-7606	Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Guy Palumbo	D	1		LEG 402	(360) 786-7600	Guy.Palumbo@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Jamie Pedersen	D	43		JAC 235	(360) 786-7628	Jamie.Pedersen@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Mike Pellicciotti	D	30	1	JLOB 304	(360) 786-7898	Mike.Pellicciotti@leg.wa.gov	House
Strom Peterson	D	21	1	JLOB 324	(360) 786-7950	Strom.Peterson@leg.wa.gov	House
Eric Pettigrew	D	37	2	LEG 434B	(360) 786-7838	Eric.Pettigrew@leg.wa.gov	House
Liz Pike	R	18	2	JLOB 469	(360) 786-7812	Liz.Pike@leg.wa.gov	House
Gerry Pollet	D	46	1	LEG 132C	(360) 786-7886	Gerry.Pollet@leg.wa.gov	House
Kevin Ranker	D	40		JAC 215	(360) 786-7678	Kevin.Ranker@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Kristine Reeves	D	30	2	LEG 132D	(360) 786-7830	Kristine.Reeves@leg.wa.gov	House
Marcus Riccelli	D	3	1	LEG 434A	(360) 786-7888	Marcus.Riccelli@leg.wa.gov	House
Ann Rivers	R	18		INB 204	(360) 786-7634	Ann.Rivers@leg.wa.gov	Senate
June Robinson	D	38	1	JLOB 332	(360) 786-7864	June.Robinson@leg.wa.gov	House
Jay Rodne	R	5	1	JLOB 420	(360) 786-7852	Jay.Rodne@leg.wa.gov	House
Christine Rolfes	D	23		JAC 303	(360) 786-7644	Christine.Rolfes@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Cindy Ryu	D	32	1	JLOB 325	(360) 786-7880	Cindy.Ryu@leg.wa.gov	House
Rebecca Saldaña	D	37		JAC 230	(360) 786-7688	Rebecca.Saldana@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Sharon Tomiko Santos	D	37	1	JLOB 321	(360) 786-7944	SharonTomiko.Santos@leg.wa.gov	House
David Sawyer	D	29	1	JLOB 369	(360) 786-7906	David.Sawyer@leg.wa.gov	House
Joe Schmick	R	9	2	LEG 426B	(360) 786-7844	Joe.Schmick@leg.wa.gov	House
Mark Schoesler	R	9		LEG 314	(360) 786-7620	Mark.Schoesler@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Mike Sells	D	38	2	LEG 438B	(360) 786-7840	Mike.Sells@leg.wa.gov	House
Tana Senn	D	41	1	JLOB 309	(360) 786-7894	Tana.Senn@leg.wa.gov	House
Matt Shea	R	4	1	LEG 427A	(360) 786-7984	Matt.Shea@leg.wa.gov	House
Tim Sheldon	D	35		LEG 417	(360) 786-7668	Timothy.Sheldon@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Shelly Short	R	7		LEG 409	(360) 786-7612	Shelly.Short@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Vandana Slatter	D	48	1	JLOB 336	(360) 786-7936	Vandana.Slatter@leg.wa.gov	House
Norma Smith	R	10	1	JLOB 435	(360) 786-7884	Norma.Smith@leg.wa.gov	House
Larry Springer	D	45	2	LEG 132E	(360) 786-7822	Larry.Springer@leg.wa.gov	House
Melanie  Stambaugh	R	25	1	LEG 122E	(360) 786-7948	Melanie.Stambaugh@leg.wa.gov	House
Derek Stanford	D	1	1	JLOB 327	(360) 786-7928	Derek.Stanford@leg.wa.gov	House
Mike Steele	R	12	2	LEG 122F	(360) 786-7832	mike.steele@leg.wa.gov	House
Drew Stokesbary	R	31	1	JLOB 426	(360) 786-7846	Drew.Stokesbary@leg.wa.gov	House
Monica Jurado Stonier	D	49	2	JLOB 331	(360) 786-7872	Monica.Stonier@leg.wa.gov	House
Pat Sullivan	D	47	2	LEG 339A	(360) 786-7858	Pat.Sullivan@leg.wa.gov	House
Dean Takko	D	19		JAC 226	(360) 786-7636	Dean.Takko@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Gael Tarleton	D	36	2	LEG 429A	(360) 786-7860	Gael.Tarleton@leg.wa.gov	House
David Taylor	R	15	2	JLOB 421	(360) 786-7874	David.Taylor@leg.wa.gov	House
Steve Tharinger	D	24	2	JLOB 314	(360) 786-7904	Steve.Tharinger@leg.wa.gov	House
Javier Valdez	D	46	2	JLOB 306	(360) 786-7818	Javier.Valdez@leg.wa.gov	House
Kevin Van De Wege	D	24		JAC 212	(360) 786-7646	Kevin.VanDeWege@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Luanne Van Werven	R	42	1	JLOB 419	(360) 786-7980	Luanne.VanWerven@leg.wa.gov	House
Brandon Vick	R	18	1	JLOB 468	(360) 786-7850	Brandon.Vick@leg.wa.gov	House
Mike Volz	R	6	1	JLOB 427	(360) 786-7922	Mike.Volz@leg.wa.gov	House
Keith Wagoner	R	39		INB 109B	(360) 786-7676	Keith.Wagoner@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Jim Walsh	R	19	1	JLOB 428	(360) 786-7806	Jim.Walsh@leg.wa.gov	House
Maureen Walsh	R	16		INB 205	(360) 786-7630	Maureen.Walsh@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Judy Warnick	R	13		INB 103	(360) 786-7624	Judy.Warnick@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Lisa Wellman	D	41		JAC 218	(360) 786-7641	Lisa.Wellman@leg.wa.gov	Senate
J.T. Wilcox	R	2	2	LEG 426A	(360) 786-7912	JT.Wilcox@leg.wa.gov	House
Lynda Wilson	R	17		INB 110	(360) 786-7632	Lynda.Wilson@leg.wa.gov	Senate
Sharon Wylie	D	49	1	JLOB 310	(360) 786-7924	Sharon.Wylie@leg.wa.gov	House
Jesse Young	R	26	1	JLOB 422	(360) 786-7964	Jesse.Young@leg.wa.gov	House
Hans Zeiger	R	25		INB 109	(360) 786-7648	Hans.Zeiger@leg.wa.gov	Senate

Legal Clones Still not Easy to Find in WA

First published here
https://www.ganjapreneur.com/washington-patients-still-no-easy-access-to-seeds-clones/

      In Washington state, a medical cannabis patient who is registered on the Marijuana Authorization Database can grow up to six plants at home, while a qualifying patient who is not registered can grow up to four plants — but do medical cannabis patients in Washington really have legal access to seeds, clones, and plants?
We recently decided to check.
When Washington’s medical and adult-use cannabis systems were merged in 2015 with the passage of the Cannabis Patient Protection Act, activists quickly noticed the legislature forgot to include a way medical home growers could legally acquire plants for their gardens. So lawmakers passed a fix in early 2017: in their provision, registered patients can purchase seeds, clones, and small plants (while qualifying patients can buy seeds) directly from I-502 producers.
     Using a Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) list of licensed producers, we called a total of 40 producers from around the state, 20 from the four largest counties and 20 more from smaller counties throughout Washington.
Photo credit: Sarah Climaco
A large majority of the calls ended with an answering machine and no callbacks. Among those who answered, some had heard of the program but were not ready to sell to patients. A few had not heard of the new regulations but were open to eventually participating in the program. However, none of the contacted producers had concrete plans in place to sell to patients, and not one producer out of the 40 on our call list was able to provide clones at the time of our call.
“We don’t really feel the state has explained this enough,” said Rick Roening, a Spokane County licensed producer. “We worry about patients coming into the grow and bringing pests. There is also an extra security risk. We have genetics we’d like to keep under wraps, and no one has said what happens if our plants find themselves in illegal grows.”
“We just don’t feel the return is worth the risk right now, but if there is more clarification from the state we may be open to direct sales to patients at some point,” he said.
     While Roening was unable to provide us with any plants at that time, he pointed us in a direction that did yield, after another call and email, a Washington I-502 producer who is selling clones.
Crystal Oliver, President of Washington’s Finest Cannabis, said that they are ready to sell clones to registered cardholders and are happy to be helping: “We want to get our strains out to patients to help and to share our unique strains, their benefits, and our joy of growing them.”
“Many growers are abandoning diverse heirloom strains in favor of high THC, high producing cultivars, putting some strains in jeopardy of being lost forever. Not only does selling clones to medical home growers help those in need, but it helps keep cannabis biodiversity going in the state. Unfortunately, over-regulation is making this whole process more difficult than it should be,” Oliver said.
Photo credit: Sarah Climaco
     We asked the WSLCB what more could be done to help patients find the rare producers who provide this service. LCB spokesperson Mikhail Carpenter said there may be a way to inform patients about who is selling clones using the new data system set to come online January 1, 2018.
“At the moment, producers don’t have to say up front if they will sell clones to patients, but they must enter them into the traceability system once they are sold. The new system isn’t set up for this yet, but we may be able to do a data search after the fact for producers who have made this type of transaction. Then, provide those names on a list. This is something we are looking into,” Carpenter told Ganjapreneur.

WA Home Grow Biull Insulting to Patients

     In 2015 when the Washington State Legislature took it upon themselves to smash the legacy medical cannabis system, there was much wringing of hands over the number of plants patients could grow. Under the previous system patients could grow a reasonable 15 plants, but worried about diversion the all knowing WA legislature cut that number down to 6, or 4, respectively. If a patient on a limited budget spends $100 to $150 for a recommendation alone, they can grow four measly plants. If they take the extra step and get registered, patients can grow 6 plants, but good luck finding plants/clones or seeds. It’s nearly impossible to find clones on the regulated system.

     Now along comes the WSLCB, who for some reason people forget were voted out of existence the same year cannabis was legalized in 2012, with their legislative mandated home grow feasibility study. They presented 3 options to the Democratic controlled legislature. Option 1 and 2 both require permits to grow four sad plants, with plan 2 relying on a bit more skull f^^kiry with a prevision plants must be tracked. Option 3 is just keep it like it is; only patients can grow. Here is where it is insulting.

     How much will these permits be and how will people get them. Right now it’s nearly impossible to find a doctor to recommend cannabis. If you get the recommendation, it’s expensive. Then if a patient actually wants to have enough plants to provide for themselves, they have to take ANOTHER step to get registered on a database. So, now under the new plans just any old WA person will be able to get a permit. I bet they’ll be able to buy them online, easy peasy. Suddenly clones will be easy to get. Meanwhile, patients, who remember have a condition that renders them debilitated, have been struggling to find plants, find doctors, afford recommendations, navigate fear of registration and many other problems related to medical cannabis. All with little to no relief from Olympia. If Washington was truly the caring state it pretends to be patients would get their 15 plants back, while citizens could grow 4 or 6 plants, without any permit. As written today, the 3 proposals are insulting to patients struggling to provide medicine for themselves.

           

WSLCB to Hold Recreational Cannabis Home Grow Hearing

     The LCB announced last week a hearing concerning recreational cannabis home grows. To avoid a large turnout they scheduled it during a regular meeting. Below, they even say there may not be enough parking or space for people to attend. They are outline three Options. None provide the access needed by medical marijuana patients. The public should be able to grow cannabis at their home without a permit. Plant limits make sense, but won't solve the diversion problem. Only full legalization will solve that problem.



From the LCB Website
"Liquor and Cannabis Board to hold public hearing on recreational marijuana home grows
Liquor and Cannabis Board to hold public hearing on recreational marijuana home grows
Agency tasked by new law to conduct study and make recommendations to Legislature by Dec. 1, 1017
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) will hold a public hearing on Wed. Oct. 4, 2017, to receive public input on whether the State should allow home grows of recreational marijuana. The public hearing is during the regularly scheduled 10:00 a.m. Board meeting at its headquarters at 3000 Pacific Avenue in Olympia. Due to space and parking restrictions, the WSLCB encourages written public comment. Written public comment may be submitted by email through Oct. 11, 2017 at rules@lcb.wa.gov(link sends e-mail) or hard copy at PO Box 43080, Olympia, WA 98504.
Legislation enacted in 2017 directs the WSLCB to “conduct a study of regulatory options for the legalization of marijuana plant possession and cultivation by recreational marijuana users.” The study must take into account the “Cole Memo,” issued by the United State Department of Justice in 2013, which outlines the federal government’s enforcement priorities in states where medical or recreational marijuana has been legalized or decriminalized. The study and recommendations are due to the Legislature on Dec. 1, 2017
“The agency is actively engaging other states, the public, the industry and stakeholders. We know there are many perspectives to this issue and we want to ensure they are captured for our report and recommendations,” said agency director Rick Garza.
The WSLCB is seeking input on three options at the public hearing
• Option 1: Tightly Regulated Recreational Marijuana Home Grows
◦ This option allows recreational home grows under a strict state regulatory framework based on the Cole Memo:
◦ Requires a permit;
◦ Four plants maximum per household;
◦ All plants must be entered into the state traceability system;
◦ Requirements for security, preventing youth access, preventing diversion, etc.;
◦ Jurisdiction is shared between WSLCB and local authorities
◦ Statutory provision that allows law enforcement to seize and destroy all plants if beyond limit;
◦ Allows recreational growers to purchase plants from licensees as long as growers have a permit;
◦ Same restrictions on processing marijuana that apply to medical marijuana (no combustible processing).
• Option 2: Local Control of Recreational Marijuana Home Grows
◦ This option is based on statewide standards including requirements for security, preventing youth access, preventing diversion, etc.;
◦ Limits plants to 4 per household;
◦ Allows recreational growers to purchase plants from licensees as long as growers have a permit.
◦ Requires a permit to possess plants.
• Difference from Option 1
◦ Does not require plants to be entered into traceability
◦ State sets minimum requirements. Local jurisdictions can be more restrictive.
◦ Authorized, controlled, and enforced by local jurisdictions;
◦ Home grows are prohibited without local permission;
• Option 3. Recreational Home Grows are Prohibited
◦ This option preserves the status quo. Recreational home grows continue to remain prohibited:
◦ A regulated market exists today with statewide access;
◦ Recreational home grows may provide a cover for diversion;
◦ The Cole Memo is concerned with diversion, youth access, and the criminal element;
◦ Home grows for medical marijuana are allowed as well as cooperatives.
Among the eight states that have legalized recreational marijuana, Washington is the only state that does not allow marijuana home grows. Washington allows authorized patients to have limited grows for medical purposes or to be part of a four-member medical marijuana cooperative if the cooperative registers with the WSLCB and the local jurisdiction does not object.
Those wishing to view the public hearing may watch via WebEx. The live link will be posted to the Board Meeting webpage of the WSLCB website at lcb.wa.gov at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.

Americans for Safe Access Steps up to Help Fight the Opiate Crisis

The opiate crisis has hit record levels in recent years. Whether it is the spike in overdoses, the increased crime associated with street drugs or the increase in homelessness due to addiction, everyone agrees from DC to California that something needs to be done. More and more that something looks to be cannabis. Studies have shown that states with medical cannabis have a 25% decrease in opiate related deaths. Many people are turning to cannabis instead of opiates for pain relief. Some studies have shown cannabis is a great tool for helping people endure opiate withdrawals to help them get clean. Now Americans for Safe Access is starting a program to help get labs certified to increase the availability of properly tested cannabis to help fight the opiate crisis.

     ASA will be offering free Patient Focused Certification for cannabis testing labs. They cite the fact many labs don’t have the financial resources to be certified and having properly tested and labeled cannabis is sometimes a barrier for patients. Jahan Marcu PhD, the head of Patient Focused Certification, said. “By increasing the number of certified labs, we can

Increase the availability of accurately tested and labeled medical cannabis, ensuring that this

Medicine is available to patients as an option instead of opioids.”

“If the relationship between medical cannabis laws and opioid overdose mortality is to be leveraged,

The enactment of PFC’s free assessment and certification program for medical cannabis laboratories

Will help the move towards the full realization of the benefits of medical cannabis on public health.

     Labs will need to pass a two step certification process that involves a facility inspection and a review of employee training records, method verifications and other documentation related to cannabis testing. To apply labs can click here.