The bill seeks to enhance access to medical cannabis in Washington State by introducing a medical cannabis endorsement for retailers and processors, enabling them to sell compliant products to qualifying patients and their designated providers. It outlines the standards these products must meet, the requirements for obtaining and maintaining the endorsement, and mandates employee training on recognizing valid authorizations and understanding available medical cannabis products. Additionally, the bill establishes a secure medical cannabis authorization database to track qualifying patients and their providers, ensuring compliance with regulations, while also providing for the issuance of recognition cards that detail authorized cannabis amounts.

Moreover, the legislation amends existing laws regarding the confidentiality of the medical cannabis authorization database, ensuring that personally identifiable information remains confidential and exempt from public disclosure, with aggregate data allowed for statistical purposes. It introduces a one-dollar fee for initial and renewal recognition cards and establishes a medical cannabis consultant certificate, detailing the authority of the department's secretary to adopt rules and conduct background checks for certification applicants. The bill also clarifies that certain employees of licensed cannabis retailers or processors do not need to obtain this certification and updates the types of cannabis products available for purchase by qualifying patients and designated providers, including immature plants and seeds.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 69.50.325, 69.50.335, 69.51A.230, 69.51A.290, 69.51A.310