Cannabis for medical use in Washington became legal on November 3, 1998 under the auspices of Chapter 69.51a RCW: Medical marijuana. The law was updated on July 1, 2008 and again on November 2, 2008.
The law removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marijuana by patients. Documentation from the patient’s physician is no longer required for the allowed 60 days supply. The Final Rule states that documentation from the patient’s physician as to necessity of use will help the qualifying patient to overcome the presumptive limit.
Conditions Approved for Use of Medical Marijuana in Washington
- Cachexia
- Cancer
- Crohn’s disease
- Diseases*, including Anorexia, which result in:
- nausea
- Vomiting
- Wasting
- Appetite Loss
- Cramping
- Seizures
- Muscle Spasms
- Spasticity
- Hepatitis C with debilitating nausea or intractable pain
- HIV or AIDS
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- Intractable pain (defined as pain unrelieved by standard treatment or medications)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Other conditions are subject to approval by the Washington Board of Health
*when these conditions are unrelieved by standard treatments or medications
Possession/Cultivation
Patients (or their primary caregivers) may legally possess or cultivate no more than a 60-day supply of marijuana, defined by the Final Rule of November 2008 as:
- 15 plants in any stage of growth plus
- 24 ounces of usable marijuana
The law does not establish a state-run patient registry.
Department of HealthPO Box 47866
Olympia, WA 98504-7866
Phone: 360-236-4700
Fax: 360-236-4768 MedicalMarijuana@doh.wa.gov
More Practitioners to Prescribe Medical Marijuana
Full details of how to get a medical marijuana card in Washington.
Return to medical marijuana state laws
“”"”"”" WASHINGTON RESIDENTS “”"”"”"
Need to find a place with an alternative medication? Come visit W.A.M.M at 3302 E SPRAGUE AVE.SPOKANE,WASHINGTON. the number is 509-533-1002 or 1-877-430-0420 M-F 9am-6pm and saturday 10am-4pm..
i just recently got my MMC @ WAMM
it was easily done
only problem is i live 2 hours away from Spokane
and all the dispensaries have been closed down in Spokane
and there are none closer to me then 3 hours away
but i am going to start my garden tomorrow
so …….. life aint terribly bad
Would i qualify with insomnia and depression?
i have both and i am sick of therapists trying to pump me full of anti depressants and sleep meds when cannabis works for both.
Hi Cody,
Unfortunately in WA State there is no mental type illness that will qualify you. However, there are usually symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, bipolar, ADD/ADHD, PTSD, and insomnia. With a doctor’s help or other qualifying health care practitioner and/or examination of your health care history (if you have one) you might have qualifying conditions associated with these, and not even know they existed.
That is why it is always important to be examined without trying to uncover whether or not you qualify on your own. It is important to go to a health care facility that will not charge you for an initial exam if you do not qualify.
I hope this information is useful. Best of luck.
Nora
Does fibromyalgia count? I’m really tired of pounding pain meds that don’t do the job.
Yes, fibromyalgia may count as a qualifying condition if approved by a qualifying practitioner.
It is really not based on WHAT you have, but the severity and your case in its entirety. This is why it is important to gather your health information, or have a health care clinic that specializes in this gather it for you, and then make an appointment.
I’m 23 and recently got out of the army. I suffer from PTSD, mildTBI, and a few other things. I’ve heard of people in other states getting a card for PTSD, but how likely is that in this state? It does miracles for me and I would like to do it with out fear of the “law!”
thats washington state btw lol…
You can refer to my comment above for more information. What I tell patients is that mental illness in WA State does not qualify you. However, most people who suffer from conditions such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, etc. usually suffer from underlying symptoms such as migraines, backaches, and other pain. It is very common to have a mental illness and have associated pain – the two usually run hand-in-hand. What is best is to gather your health information and visit a clinic that specializes in this for an examine and to uncover possible underlying symptoms you may be suffering from. If you are, in fact, suffering then you have nothing to fear but a solution to your problems. If you aren’t suffering then at least you will discover you don’t qualify. Either way, it costs you nothing if you go to the right facility. Our Health care center routinely deals with acquiring records from Army Madigan Hospital and the VA.
Best of Luck,
Nora
I had knee surgery. They removed almost all of my maniskis and said I will have pain for the rest of my life. I will also have arthritus later on. Would like to know if I could qualify. I dont like to smoke it. Do they have other options?
I know quite a few people who don’t like to smoke marijuana as well, an easy and tasty alternative is edibles. They give a nice body high as well as relieving their pain.
Nick,
There are TONS of ways you can get the benefits of medicinal THC from cannibus without having to smoke it. Edibles are definitely a good, convenient, and mostly “inexpensive” way to go. You can get food items themselves (cookies, bars, etc), tea bags, or items you can use to put on other food products you eat every day (like butter to spread on toast or oil to put on bread. Alot of times with the high concentration items like the oil, it’s easier to digest and get into your system when it’s taken with food anyways.
You can always use a vaporizer as well. We are way past the days of patients being forced to roll joint after joint…not to mention there are negative effects on the lungs/throat when smoaked for a long period of time (I’m not an expert..btw). Vaporizing is quick and easy and you won’t even feel it as you get it in your system. Very “clean” way to go.
Visit a store in your area and check out their inventory. Medical suppliers are amazing at assisting patients with whatever method fits their needs and lifestyle. I, for one, like the feeling of smoking it but I HATE the smell and the feeling after it gives me of making me crave a cigarette…I’ve been off cigarettes for 8 years now and I don’t need anything triggering my addiction, so alternatives help so much. My only advice would be to try different things and find what works in the situations you will be in, but just remember to ask questions and make sure what you find best helps your ailments.
Best of luck and everyone stay safe out there.
Much love,
TP
Hi Nick,
The others had a lot of good advice, especially Trevor. Smoking is actually the least effective way of smoking it, although many will try to convince you otherwise. Almost all health care practitioners will advise you NOT to smoke cannabis. Smoking can have long-term harmful effects on your lungs, not to mention the smell will bring unwanted social consequences that not everyone is prepared for. To remain private and relatively safe there are plenty of effective uses of cannabis. As some of the others mentioned, use is really the best test of what will work for you.
Medical grade cannabis is unlike street-grade cannabis. It has different physiological effects, strengths, lengths of time it will work, and doses. Most important to remember is to use organic strains when vaporizing. Also, start by using small doses and work your way upward just like with medication that would be prescribed by your physician. Use only what is effective for your condition. Remember that edibles usual take longer to work – in some cases an hour, but last longer in the system (this may be ideal for certain types of chronic pain and sleeping). Vapors and tinctures work quickly, but do not last as long – so plan accordingly (possibly for quick acting, like migraines). Best of luck to you.
Nora
Nick,
THC is fat and alcohol soluble. I’ve heard about people placing marijuana in a bottle of rubbing alcohol and letting it sit for a week or two, then using it as a rub on aching joints. Also, here is a website loaded with “herbed” edible foods.
http://www.thestonerscookbook.com/how_to_cook_with_weed.php#bud
I hope this helps.
blend high quality organic loose leaf with sweet leaf trimmimgs. Wonderful and helps with sleep at night with herbal blends.
how do i get a med mj card? I have titanium implants between cervical 4 to 7. reg meds, vicodan, percoset, etc. does nothing when the nerves get impinged.
Shop around because most places in the Seattle area want 150 bucks for your license but I shopped around and got mine for 100 bucks over by the South Center Mall and someone was saying there is a doctor on the east side that for 200 bucks will give you a license with no paper, have not found out if that is true or not but hope its not because stupid stuff like that could ruin it for everyone
Please feel free to visit our website and fill out our Intake form, it is free and we will let you know if you qualiy and set an appointment for you to be seen by one of our doctors in Seattle or Spokane.. It is a very easy process and we make sure out patients are taken care of.. http://www.greenwellness.org
Patients in Tacoma! Green Health at 402 Tacoma Ave S. Suite 100, has tons of options starting at only $7/g and never more than $10/g, and we always weigh it out over! Call us at 253-223-3117.
Ansering the question for Gary I have lower back pain and migrain headaches I got my card I dont smoke it I take drops and it works for me from what you shared with us I think you will get your card to good luck and I hope you take care and it will help your pain feel free to email me anytime nikki_brewer@hotmail.com Nicole
Yes, the conditions you listed qualify. It helps both you and the doctor permitting you if you are able to provide your history of pain and what treatments you have tried. A copy of your pain doctors notes is sufficient.
State wide agency that assist patients in obtaining their Medical marijuana authorizations. Visit our website http://www.MMCWS.com for more information or call 360-299-2734
I WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO CONTACT ME TO SEE IF I QUILIFY FOR THIS MEDICATION 360-262-0900 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 360-262-0900 end_of_the_skype_highlighting THANKS GARY HAGER
I HAVE A VERY BAD HEALTH HISTORY 1 I HAVE A EPILEPSY DISORDER #2 I TAKE OXYCODONE/APAP 5/325 ALSO OXYCONTIN 40MG FOR LOWER BACK AND LEFT HIP. THE MED HAVE NO EFFECT ANYMORE AND THE pain IS GETTING TO THE POINT I CAN’T WALK IN THE AM AT ALL. I NEED TO KNOW IF I COULD BE OR IF I AM A CANADATE FOR THIS MED? THANK YOU AND I LOOK TO HERE FROM YOUR REPLY. THANKS GARY HAGER 360-262-0900 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 360-262-0900 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
We are the Washington State Cannabis Group. We are a clinic in Shoreline that helps patients that qualify under RCW 69.51A. Patients are able to call for information on appointments at 206-618-9091 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 206-618-9091 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
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