Washington State Medical and recreational cannabis markets Merge
What you need to know as the Washington State Medical and recreational cannabis markets Merge. As of July 1, 2016, only businesses licensed by Washington liquor and the Cannabis control board will be able to sell Medical Marijuana. Many are unhappy about the states decision to roll its medical program into their recreation program, but the state is confident that, in the long run, this decision is a better solution for the I-502 cannabis industry as a whole.
Once Initiative 502 in November 2012, all marijuana was treated the same which in turn created a largely unregulated and untaxed medical marijuana system, with an estimated 1/3 of Washington’s cannabis market in medical, state lawmakers passed Senate bill 5052 to merge the two markets.
Medical Marijuana patient advocates worry that recreation dispensaries will not have the expertise to support their medical needs. Industry officials combat these statements by saying that their worry is unfounded. A majority of I-502 recreational shop owners were previously medical before recreational was legalized. Washington State also mandates that each store has a certified patient advisor on staff. A certified patient advisor is a staff member who has taken state course that teaches students about the effects of medical cannabis on the body and how it can be used to combat various ailments.
Before Washington legalized recreational marijuana in 2012, it had a long established medical marijuana market, but many dispensaries were unregulated and unlicensed. The legislature has passed earlier this year that allows recreational dispensaries to also serve medical cannabis to patients by getting a “medical endorsement” from the state and medically licensed.
Along with this transition, there have also been a few changes for medical marijuana patience, for instance, the state added post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury to the qualifying medical conditions. Patients 21 or older can join a cooperative that can serve up to four patients and grow a total of 60 plants as long as they are registered with the state, and patients are allowed access to different products that recreational users as most patients have a higher THC tolerance.
To help understand what this transition means to cannabis business owners the Washington Liquor and cannabis control board as complied information from all of the agencies involved in the transition. The Liquor control board is expecting a transition period but will do its best to provide cannabis business the necessary tools needed for the transition. This includes licensing and regulation for producers, processors, and retailers.
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