Cannabis in Washington

Washington legalized cannabis for adults 21 and older when voters passed Initiative 502 in 2012, and the first licensed retail stores opened in 2014. The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) licenses and inspects producers, processors and retailers; its September 2026 retailer list shows about 470 active store licenses. You do not need to be a resident to buy, but you must show valid government-issued photo ID, and you may only buy from a state-licensed store.

Adults can buy and possess up to one ounce of usable cannabis, 16 ounces of solid infused products, 72 ounces of infused liquids and 7 grams of concentrate. Retail purchases carry a 37% cannabis excise tax on top of sales tax. Using cannabis in public is illegal, including parks, sidewalks, concert venues and federal land, and cannabis in a vehicle must be sealed in its original package and kept in the trunk or out of reach of the driver and passengers. Adults may gift small amounts to another adult without payment, but selling without a license is a felony.

Home growing remains illegal for non-medical adults. A 2026 bill to allow up to six plants per adult (SB 6204) did not advance beyond the Senate Rules Committee. Registered medical patients are the exception: with a recognition card issued at a medically endorsed store, they may grow six plants (up to 15 if authorized), buy larger amounts and skip excise and sales tax on compliant products. About 280 retail licenses carry a medical endorsement.