Several provisions found in Washington State’s Senate Bill 5052, signed by Governor Jay Inslee in April, go into effect today, July 24th. Although most of the changes are regressive, such as eliminating in-home collective gardens, post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries have been added to the list of qualifying medical cannabis conditions.
One change that goes into effect today is a ban on the use of butane in the production of hash oil, unless the individual or company producing the substance has a license from the state’s Liquor Control Board. This means that currently operating medical cannabis dispensaries will need to cease producing and (unless it was produced before the new law went into effect) selling butane hash oil, commonly referred to as BHO.
Another provision that’s now in effect makes it so that healthcare professionals cannot have a practice that consists primarily of authorizing medical cannabis patients. Physicians who write more than 30 authorizations in a month will need to report to the state, and checkups must occur at the physicians physical business.
Yet another provision makes it so that patients can no longer cultivate more than 15 plants in a housing unit, even if multiple patients are living at the location, effectively eliminating in-home collective gardens.
Some of the most impactful provision of Senate Bill 5052, such as the closure of medical cannabis dispensaries and a drastic reduction in the amount of cannabis patients can possess and cultivate, goes into effect next July.
A team of attorneys is currently working to have Senate Bill 5052 overturned; they are currently running a GoFundMe page to help fund a series of lawsuits.
– TheJointBlog
