Yes. Marijuana dispensaries are legal in Seattle in accordance with Initiative 502 (I-502). I-502 legalized adult-use marijuana in Washington and permitted the establishment of marijuana dispensaries in the state.
Yes. With state law (Initiative 692) legalizing medical marijuana and the operations of medical marijuana dispensaries in Washington, Seattle permits the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries within its borders.
Although some Seattle marijuana dispensaries allow you to order their products online, you can only pick up the products by visiting the stores' physical locations. Note that cannabis deliveries to the homes of buyers are currently illegal in the city
First-time dispensary visits can be unnerving, but they do not have to be. The majority of dispensaries are neat, welcoming, and sophisticated. The key to a dispensary visit is being prepared. Before you visit the dispensary, ensure you have the following:
Cash: Do not expect to pay with a credit card while purchasing cannabis. Most dispensaries accept cash
A valid picture identification: Driver's licenses and a State of Washington-issued identification card are the usually accepted
Medical marijuana card: If you intend to visit a medical marijuana dispensary, you should take a medical marijuana card along
When entering the dispensary, your identification card will be required. A security officer or employee will direct you to the main retail area. Typically, you will have to wait in line to be served. This is because dispensaries depend on one-on-one interactions between customers and budtenders. Fortunately, lines often move swiftly.
Once you reach the head of the line and approach the main counter, the budtender will inquire about your cannabis needs. Based on your feedback, the budtender will offer suggestions and show you available cannabis products.
When you make your selections, the budtender will put each item in a sealed bag (or bags). Note that cannabis consumption is not permitted on the dispensary premises or around the area. Wait until you get home to consume your products.
Per Ordinance 124969, marijuana dispensaries in the city must not be located within the following:
500 feet of a recreation center, public transit center, library, game arcade, childcare centers, and public parks
1,000 feet of other marijuana dispensaries
1,000 feet of an elementary school, secondary school, or playground
Also:
Seattle marijuana dispensaries may sell concentrates, infused products, paraphernalia, and flower. The Washington Liquor Control Board permits cannabis edibles such as cakes, brownies, cookies, and similar baked goods. However, pot-laced or infused candies, such as gummy sweets, lollipops, and jellybeans, are prohibited
Dispensaries must verify visitors' IDs before selling them cannabis products
Cannabis dispensaries may only operate between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m. and not offer cannabis delivery services
Sales of cannabis may not occur to persons under the age of 21
Seattle recreational marijuana laws are similar to the Washington Marijuana Legalization and Regulation Initiative. These include:
One ounce of usable cannabis, 16 ounces of cannabis-infused products in solid form, 72 ounces of cannabis-infused products in liquid form, and 7 grams of cannabis concentrate
Cannabis consumption in public view and public locations is illegal
Shipping marijuana across state lines is illegal
Cannabis consumption is illegal in a vehicle, and anywhere tobacco smoking is prohibited
Driving under the influence of cannabis is illegal
Carrying cannabis in your vehicle is permitted if the cannabis is in a sealed container or the trunk. However, opening the package or container inside the vehicle is illegal
Home cultivation of recreational cannabis is illegal
Cannabis businesses in the city and those coming into the city to establish cannabis businesses must obtain Seattle marijuana business licenses and Seattle business license tax certificates
No cannabis sales are allowed at special events outside of licensed dispensaries
Giving away marijuana is not permitted in the city
Medical marijuana is legal in Seattle as approved under the Washington Medical Use of Marijuana Act of 1998 (I-692). I-692 authorized the use of medical marijuana by persons with specific severe ailments, terminal illnesses, or persistent pain. I-692 also offered legal protections for the possession and use of medicinal marijuana to qualified patients and their caregivers.
Pursuant to I-692, Seattle patients registered in the medical marijuana database may purchase any combination of the following cannabis amounts:
21 grams of cannabis concentrate
6.4 liters of cannabis-infused products in liquid form
48 ounces of cannabis-infused products in solid form
3 ounces of cannabis
Medical marijuana patients may cultivate up to six plants and possess 8 ounces of usable cannabis from their home-cultivated cannabis plants unless in instances where their physicians have permitted cultivation of higher amounts. An approved healthcare practitioner may authorize the home cultivation of cannabis up to 15 plants and 16 ounces of usable cannabis produced from a patient's plants. Seattle patients who have obtained authorization from their healthcare providers but have not registered in the state medical marijuana database may grow up to four cannabis plants and possess six ounces from such plants. Seattle patients who qualify and are enrolled in the medical marijuana database may join a cooperative to cultivate their own plants. This may be an alternative for patients who cannot cultivate plants at home.
Medical marijuana cards are obtained at medically endorsed stores in Washington. Hence, to obtain a medical marijuana card, you must fulfill the requirements to visit a medically endorsed store in the city to pick up one. To be included in the authorization database, which allows for the issuance of a medical marijuana card, you must obtain a diagnosis of a qualifying condition and a medical cannabis authorization from a healthcare provider. The healthcare provider must be:
An Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARPN)
A medical doctor
A naturopathic physician
An osteopathic physician
An osteopathic physician assistant
A physician assistant
Qualifying conditions include:
Cancer
Cachexia
Glaucoma
HIV/AIDS
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Anorexia
Traumatic brain injury
Multiple Sclerosis
Spasticity disorders
Appetite loss
Crohn's disease with debilitating symptoms
Chronic renal failures requiring hemodialysis
Hepatitis C with debilitating nausea or pain
Epilepsy or other seizure disorders
Intractable pain
Upon obtaining medical authorization from your healthcare provider, you may visit a medically endorsed store to pick up your medical marijuana card. You will be charged a fee to obtain the card. While the state does not stipulate a maximum fee for the card, stores are required to charge at least $1 per card. For the address of medically endorsed stores in Seattle, visit the Frequently Requested Lists page of the WSLCB website.
Cannabis consumption is legal on private properties. You may not consume cannabis in multi-unit residences or any vehicle, moving or parked. Consumption in public locations is also illegal.
You may buy cannabis from a Seattle Dispensary by visiting the address of the retail outlet. Ensure you have cash and a valid in-state or out-of-state card when visiting the dispensary showing you are 21 or older.
An ounce of high-quality cannabis costs, on average, $270 at Seattle dispensaries, or roughly $17 per gram. There are $5 pre-rolls, $5 - $10 marijuana brownies, $15 - $35 per gram for concentrates, and $35 - $40 for vape pen cartridges.
Some popular cannabis strains in Seattle are:
Northern Lights
Original Glue
Purple Punch
Wedding Cake
Blue Dream
Grandaddy Purple
Sour Diesel
Green Crack
No. Seattle ordinance restricts the use of cannabis on public properties. This implies that you cannot open the cannabis container or use cannabis or cannabis products in public view or in a public place. Although public view is often self-explanatory, it may be tough to determine if you are unfamiliar with marijuana rules. The city's definition of public views includes sidewalks, roadways, and even public parks.
The city defines "public place" to include alleys, school buildings or grounds, public dance halls, beer-selling establishments, public meeting halls, restaurants, theaters, stores, publicly owned beaches, parks, and playgrounds, as well as any other similar place to which the general public has unrestricted access.
If you reside on private property with private beach access, you are permitted to use cannabis on the property as long as all property owners agree. Washington state law protects the right to private marijuana use. This implies that consumption on private property is lawful so long as the property owner approves.
Seattle adults aged 21 and older may possess up to 28 grams of marijuana, 453 grams of solid cannabis-infused products, 2 liters of liquid form cannabis, and 7 grams of cannabis concentrates. Registered medical marijuana patients typically possess 85 grams of cannabis, 1.3 kilograms of cannabis products in solid form, 6.4 liters of cannabis products in liquid form, and 21 grams of cannabis concentrate.
No. Due to interstate transport laws, which falls under the purview of federal jurisdiction, shipping cannabis across state lines into Seattle is illegal. Federally, cannabis remains an illegal drug under the Controlled Substance Act. However, you can transport cannabis from another Washington State city into Seattle.
Although cannabis delivery is illegal in Seattle, you can order cannabis online from certain dispensaries in the city and pick up the products at the dispensary locations.
As state law requires, dispensaries in Seattle operate between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m.
Yes, tourists in Seattle may use recreational weed dispensaries in the city as long as they provide acceptable ID showing they are of legal age (21) to consume marijuana in Washington.
You do not need a medical marijuana card to purchase cannabis from an adult-use dispensary in the city. However, you need an ID showing you are aged 21 or older.
The best cannabis dispensaries in Seattle include:
Have a Heart
Dockside
Ganja Goodness
Lux
Hashtag
The Reef
The Pot Shop
Marijuana dispensaries in Seattle are required by state law to track purchases. Hence, dispensaries in the city may scan your ID to ensure you do not purchase above the stated limits. However, Seattle dispensaries are not obliged by state or local law to scan your ID to keep your personal information.
Since cannabis dispensaries were first established in Seattle in 2014, more than 50 licensed dispensaries now operate within the city's limits.
Marijuana dispensaries in Seattle do not accept credit cards for purchases. Most marijuana dispensaries request cash for payment. You may use an ATM at the dispensary to withdraw cash for your purchase.
You may visit several cannabis dispensaries in one day in Seattle. However, since cannabis purchases from licensed dispensaries are tracked, you cannot buy more than the stipulated limits under Washington cannabis law.
No. The cost of cannabis purchases must be paid in full by buyers. Cannabis dispensaries in Seattle do not accept health insurance from buyers.
Yes. Seattle cannabis dispensaries are required by law to keep track of sales in their facilities. This is required to ensure buyers do not exceed the state-imposed limits.
No, you cannot enter an adult-use cannabis dispensary in Seattle at 18. You must be at least 21 before you may be permitted to enter an adult-use cannabis dispensary in the city. However, you may enter a medical weed dispensary in the city if you are 18 or older.
The cannabis regulatory agency in the City of Seattle is the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB). You may find the agency’s contact information on its website.
To file a complaint about illegal cannabis activities in Seattle, you may contact the following: