Medical cannabis patients with a valid authorization form (PDF) from their healthcare practitioner may join the medical cannabis authorization database and receive their medical cannabis recognition card. Joining the authorization database is voluntary and isn't required in order to be a medical cannabis patient unless the patient is under the age of 18.
- Purchase products at the medically endorsed retail stores sales and use tax free.
- Purchase up to three times the current limits at licensed retail stores with a medical cannabis endorsement.
- Purchase high-THC products–when available.
- Possess six plants and eight ounces of usable cannabis. A healthcare practitioner may authorize additional plants to a maximum of 15; a patient so authorized may possess up to 16 ounces of usable cannabis produced from their plants (see RCW 69.51A.210).
- Participate in a medical cannabis cooperative (see RCW 69.51A.250).
- Have arrest protection (see RCW 69.51A.040).
- Purchase immature plants, clones and seeds from a state licensed producer (see RCW 69.51A.310)
- Take your authorization form to any licensed and medically endorsed retail cannabis store.
- Ask to see the certified medical cannabis consultant on staff who is trained in working with authorized medical cannabis patients.
- Give the consultant your authorization form so that he or she can enter your information into the database, take your picture, and create a new medical cannabis recognition card.
- Pay a $1 fee required from cardholders when their card is created. The medically endorsed store collects the fee and pays it to the Department of Health.
Changed your mind?
If you choose to no longer have an active medical cannabis recognition card or would like to revoke your designated provider, you may complete the Revocation Request form (PDF) and mail it to the address at the top of the form. Be sure to notify any designated provider you revoke from the database.
Authorized patients not entered into the database
- Patients and designated providers who hold valid authorizations but aren't entered into the database may purchase only in accordance with the laws and rules for non-patients.
- They will have an affirmative defense to criminal prosecution if they possess no more than four plants and six ounces of usable cannabis.
The medical cannabis authorization database is a secure system. State law strictly limits who can view database information and how the information can be used. Only the following people can see information from the database for the following purposes:
Access their patients' health care information from the database:
- Authorizing health care practitioners.
- Practitioners authorized to prescribe or dispense controlled substances.
Add patient information from the authorization form:
Provide administration or get reports:
- Database administrator – data maintenance and store support.
- Washington State Department of Health – ensure compliance.
- Washington State Department of Revenue – sales tax-free reports.
- Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board – aggregate data reports.
Verify that a card is valid:
Non-disclosure
In addition, records in the medical cannabis authorization database containing names and other personally identifiable information of qualifying patients and designated providers are exempt from disclosure.
To be a Washington state medical cannabis patient, you must be a resident of the state under the care of a health care practitioner for your qualifying medical condition and provided a Medical Cannabis Authorization Form (PDF) from your health care practitioner allowed to authorize cannabis for medical purposes.
Authorization form requirements
As mandated in RCW, the medical cannabis authorization form must be completed on 8.5 x 11 inch tamper-resistant paper. The program does not keep a list of paper vendors. Please inquire with your current paper vendor if they are publishing Washington State Medical Cannabis Authorization Tamper-resistant paper. If you are a paper vendor in need of the Department logo, please contact the program.
- Electronic submission of this form is not allowed at this time. All medical cannabis authorizations must be completed on the DOH approved form.
- The authorization form supports HB1094- Compassionate Care Renewals. In accordance with 1094 compassionate care renewals the practitioner can now indicate patient eligibility on the revised form.
- Please read the Medical Cannabis Authorization Form Guidelines (PDF) before downloading the Medical cannabis authorization form (PDF) – (for doctor use only).
- Do not mail, fax, or email medical cannabis authorization forms to the Department of Health. The department doesn't request, receive or retain authorization forms.
- The department does not register or issue medical cannabis recognition cards for patients. If a patient wants to register with the authorization database, they can schedule an appointment with a medical cannabis consultant at a medically-endorsed retailer.
- Authorization forms printed on tamper-resistant paper containing the Pharmacy Commission seal are not valid and will prevent a patient from being entered into the Medical Cannabis Authorization Database.
For additional information, view our Authorization Form FAQs.
