Washington Marijuana Business Licenses
Status: In Washington, individuals age 21+ may be in possession of Marijuana, and state licensed businesses may cultivate, process and dispense marijuana.
| CBD Program | Medical Program | Recreational Program | Are Applications Open? |
| Legal | Legal | Legal | closed |
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Number of Washington Marijuana Business Licenses Licenses Available
| Dispensaries | Cultivation | Manufacturing/Processing | Transportation |
| 1000+ | 1000+ | 1000+ | 1000+ |
You can read the full text of the Washington Marijuana Business Licenses law at: Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board
Washington Marijuana Producer License Guidelines
- Multiple types of Marijuana Producers:
- Marijuana Producer Tier 1 allows for two thousand square feet or less of dedicated plant canopy.
- Marijuana Producer Tier 2 allows for between two thousand square feet and ten thousand square feet of dedicated plant canopy
- Marijuana Producer Tier 3 allows for between ten thousand square feet and thirty thousand square feet of dedicated plant canopy.
- Applicant required to submit $250 Application Fee (Non-Refundable) and a $1480 Annual Fee for Issuance and Renewal.
- Any entity and/or principals within an entity are limited to no more than three marijuana producer licenses.
RECOMMENDED WASHINGTON MARIJUANA BUSINESS PLANS FOR MARIJUANA PRODUCER APPLICATION:
- Washington Application Guide & Checklist
- Washington Marijuana Business Plan Package
- Cultivation Plan Template
- Environmental Plan Template
- Financial Plan Template
- Fire Safety Plan Template
- Inventory Control Plan Template
- Product Safety Plan Template
- Security Plan Template
- Staffing Plan Template
- Suitability of Proposed Plan Template
- Transportation Plan Template
Washington Marijuana Processor License Guidelines
- Marijuana Processors are authorized to process, package, and label usable marijuana and marijuana-infused products for sale at wholesale to marijuana retailers.
- Allowed to blend tested useable marijuana from multiple lots into a single package for sale to a marijuana retail licensee.
- Applicant required to submit $250 Application Fee (Non-Refundable) and a $1480 Annual Fee for Issuance and Renewal.
- Any entity and/or principals within an entity are limited to no more than three marijuana processor licenses.
RECOMMENDED WASHINGTON MARIJUANA BUSINESS PLANS FOR MARIJUANA PROCESSOR APPLICATION:
- Washington Application Guide & Checklist
- Washington Marijuana Business Plan Package
- Manufacturing/Processing Plan Template
- Environmental Plan Template
- Financial Plan Template
- Fire Safety Plan Template
- Inventory Control Plan Template
- Patient Education Plan Template
- Product Safety Plan Template
- Security Plan Template
- Staffing Plan Template
- Suitability of Proposed Plan Template
- Transportation Plan Template
Washington Marijuana Retailer License Guidelines
- Marijuana Retailers are authorized to sell only usable marijuana, marijuana-infused products, marijuana concentrates and marijuana paraphernalia at retail in retail outlets to persons twenty-one years of age and older.
- Internet sales and delivery of product is not allowed.
- Applicant required to submit $250 Application Fee (Non-Refundable) and a $1480 Annual Fee for Issuance and Renewal.
- Any entity and/or principals within any entity are limited to no more than three retail marijuana licenses with no multiple location licensee allowed more than thirty-three percent of the allowed licenses in any county or city.
RECOMMENDED WASHINGTON MARIJUANA BUSINESS PLANS FOR MARIJUANA RETAILER APPLICATION:
Social Equity Program
Under HB 2870, the total number of social equity licenses issued will be determined based on the total number of licenses that have been forfeited, revoked, or canceled as of the effective date of the bill.
- The licenses will be available to apply for from December 1, 2020, until July 1, 2028.
- Applicants will pay a $250 application fee for all processor, producer and retailer licenses, with the issuance and annual renewal fee set at $1,381.
A separate license will be required for each location at which a marijuana business intends to operate.
RECOMMENDED WASHINGTON MARIJUANA BUSINESS PLANS FOR MARIJUANA RETAILER APPLICATION:
The History of Washington Marijuana Business Licenses Marijuana
In 1998, Initiative 692 permitted patients with certain terminal or debilitating conditions to use medical marijuana. I-692 also granted affirmative defense to criminal prosecution for qualifying patients and their primary caregivers who possess no more than a 60-day supply.
An amendment to I-692 increased the types of healthcare professions allowed to authorize marijuana for medical use from just medical doctors and osteopathic physicians to also include physician assistants, advanced registered nurse practitioners and naturopathic physicians in 2010.
In 2011, the state legislature passed a bill that changed the requirements for authorizing medical marijuana to qualifying patients. Conditions and criteria for providing a recommendation are clearly established in chapter 69.51A RCW. The bill also would have legalized medical marijuana dispensaries, but Gov. Gregoire vetoed most of it, citing a concern that state workers could be prosecuted under federal law. The law did provide: guidance for healthcare practitioners authorizing medical marijuana, patient protections, and ability to form collective gardens.
In November 2012, I-502 passed, which legalized recreational marijuana and established a state regulated dispensary system for marijuana access to those 21 years and older. The Washington Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) regulates the marijuana dispensary system program which allows for interested parties to apply for producer, processor and retailer licenses. On November 18, 2013, the state began accepting applications for marijuana businesses including growers, processors and retail outlets. Applications closed and licenses were awarded in 2014.
In 2017, the legislature passed SB 5131. SB 5131 allows authorized patients and designated providers that are entered into the medical marijuana database and hold a recognition card to purchase immature plants, clones, or seeds from a licensed producer (i.e., grower).
In 2020, Washington lawmakers successfully passed a bill to bring a social equity program to the state’s cannabis industry. The bill cleared the Washington House of Representatives on February 16, 2020, with a vote of 57 to 40, and then passed the state Senate on March 9 by a vote of 28 to 20. The House voted to approve the Senate amendments the following day, on March 10. House Bill 2870 was then sent to Gov. Jay Inslee to be signed into law.
The creation of this social equity program is an unprecedented move in the cannabis industry. According to the bill, the social equity program should offer, among other things, financial and technical assistance and license application benefits to individuals most directly and adversely impacted by the enforcement of cannabis-related laws who are interested in starting cannabis business enterprises. The licenses will be available to apply for from December 1, 2020, until July 1, 2028.