Bill Drafted to Legalize Home Marijuana Cultivation in Washington State
Cannabis is legal to possess and purchase in Washington State, but growing it for personal use remains a felony. A newly drafted bill would change that.
Activists have drafted a proposal that would explicitly allow those 21 and older to grow up to six marijuana plants at a private residence. This is the same cultivation limit set in six of the seven other states with legal cannabis; Oregon is the only state with a different limit (they allow four plants).
The Washington State Cannabis Home Grow and Sharing Act would also make another much-needed change; it would legalize the sharing of up to an ounce of cannabis. Under current law sharing any amount – including passing a joint to someone else 21 or older – is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
Proponents of the measure state that; “the only way to eliminate the illicit criminal market of cannabis is by allowing adults to grow and share with other adults, along with the ability to buy it from state stores, without fear of arrest, prosecution and property forfeiture.”
Click here for the full text of the proposal.
Those in Washington State who support legalizing home marijuana cultivation and sharing should:
- call the legislative hotline at 1-800-562-6000
- E-mail the legislative support team at support@leg.wa.gov
- Click here to lookup your district’s legislator; from their you can contact them through their e-mail, phone number or even through a physical letter sent to their office.