Growing Marijuana In Washington

Please note: ILGM is NOT a legal adviser. Information contained in this website is intended as general introductory information only. The information contained on this website is not legal advice. It should not be construed as legal advice and should not be relied upon as such.

April 2016 UPDATE: Growing marijuana for medical use is still allowed in Washington. Although Washington state closed its dispensaries, medical users can still grow a small number of plants without registering or more if they do. In true Washington style, the rules are not like any other state.

Here’s what you should know:

1. Growing is limited to medical use
2. Growers must be 21
3. Grow four plants without registration
4. Cooperative gardens are allowed
5. Registration is recommended but not required

Growing Medical Weed in a Recreational State
There’s more to marijuana growing in Washington.

Here are more details:

1. Growing is Medical-Use Only. Washington is a recreational state, but it does not allow growing for recreational purposes. Home growers must have a recommendation from a doctor.
2. Growers need to be 21. Washington restricts growing to medical patients, but it does not restrict the age of patients. Growers must be 21 and may be the designated grower for an underage Dispensaries that grow for patients must employ growers that are 21 and up.
3. Grow up to 4 (or 15) plants. With a recommendation from a doctor, a patient can grow up to four plants. With registration, a patient can grow fifteen plants. If multiple patients reside in one house, the limit is fifteen plants.

Breaking this rule will cause more hassle than anything else. You will be arrested, but you can argue it in court if a doctor can explain why you need so much. The worst part is, if you grow too many (or grow without a recommendation), police can keep your plants, even if you win in court.

1. Cooperative gardens are allowed. Up to four patients can grow together. Up to sixty plants can be grown in a cooperative The harvest can be as much as 72 ounces.

Tip: make sure to download my free Grow Bible for more information

Cooperatives are basically gardening clubs for patients. In them, patients work together to grow a variety of strains. All patients must be 21 or older and must register with the state. A cooperative garden cannot be less than 1 mile from a retail location.

1. Register if you want to. Registering as a patient will earn you a recognition card that can be displayed as proof of permission to grow. In addition to having a grower’s permission slip, you can also grow more plants than those without it. A recognition card will also prevent arrest, as long as you do not have more than 15 plants.

Growing without registration is allowed but risky. If you do not have a recognition card, you could be arrested, but you may not be guilty if you produce a medical recommendation.  If you don’t plan to register, it’s best to keep your growing stealth.

Washington laws favor retail marijuana, but some room has been left for patients who prefer to grow their own.  With the closing of medical dispensaries and limitations on where cooperative gardens can exist, growing at home is the best option for Washington patients.

If you plan to grow in Washington, learning easy indoor growing techniques is the best approach.

Washington Grown – Weed Tips
Medical marijuana users in Washington can grow their own weed, but every other marijuana user in the state cannot. To keep from being mistaken for someone that cannot grow, keep from getting noticed at all.

Here are more Washington growing tips:

• Do not grow where anyone can see
• Do not grow more than 4 plants without registering
• Plan to obtain a medical recommendation (if you don’t already have one)

Have more questions about growing marijuana in Washington?  Ask below.  This page will be updated with answers to frequently asked questions when necessary.

If you are looking to grow marijuana in Washington- including the cities of Seattle, Vancouver, or Spokane, there are a few ways you can do it legally. This is because Washington, the second state to legalize the sales of recreational marijuana, has also legalized marijuana growing. Here are the two ways to grow marijuana legally in the state of Washington.

Medical marijuana

One way to grow marijuana in Washington State is as a medical marijuana patient. Washington approves the medical use of marijuana for AIDS and cancer-related nausea and vomiting; pain from Hepatitis C; vomiting and nausea due to anorexia; muscles spasms from MS, seizures and epilepsy; blood pressure issues causing glaucoma; pain due to Crohn’s disease and other un-manageable pain.  If a medical provider feels that your condition is manageable by marijuana, you are approved to grow up to 15 plants that yield up to a total of 24 ounces.

In order to grow marijuana in Washington under this exemption, have a doctor write a recommendation, and register it with the department of health.  If you need a list of doctors that will write a recommendation, try a site like Marijuana Doctors, or ask any other patients who they see.  Keep your registration card with the plants at all times.  If you are not registered but are approached by police, you can try and prove your medical exemption in court.

Washington residents can also participate in growing co-ops called collective gardens. Collective gardens allow up to ten patients to grow together, sharing the costs and benefits of their plants. Collective gardens also have a total limit of 15 plants.

Also read: Washington’s Cannabis Industry Helps the Poor

Washington laws

It is legal to grow marijuana for others, although in Washington they don’t want you smoking the stuff if you do. You can, however, grow and make some cash.

To do this, simply grow on behalf of a patient as provider. Providers may grow up to 15 plants for one patient.  As a provider, you can only have one patient at a time and must remain with that patient for at least 15 days. The patient must register their provider in writing with the health department.

Growers can also grow an unlimited amount commercially as a producer.  There are multiple fees associated with this including application, annual and background check fees. If approved, a license can cost as little as $1300. But if you wanted to commercially grow marijuana in Washington, it can be done. Check this link for more information.

How much marijuana can you grow

Whether you grow marijuana in Washington for yourself, or grow it for others, the state does not allow plants to be publicly viewable. So above all, keep your plants out of sight.  There are also limits on how much marijuana any one person can be in possession of, so if you have more than 15 plants, you may want to consider scaling back.

TIP: Looking to buy seeds? Visit the ILGM seed shop

It’s so easy to grow marijuana in Washington, there’s no reason why you wouldn’t take the simple steps to do it legally. Plus, technically, unlicensed growers can face a fine.  Silly to have that happen when all you have to do is get registered or find someone who is.  So, what are you waiting for? Get your marijuana seeds, download your Free Marijuana Grow Bible and let’s get growing!

Latest Updates

December 2015 –  Washington’s Cannabis Industry Helps the Poor

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Marijuana legislation can be complicated, but Jenny Bloom is always up for the task. Although not a lawyer, her experience as a reporter and PR specialist helps her understand legalese – especially when it relates to growing marijuana. A passionate supporter of legalization and home... [read more]

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