<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Related: <a title="Washington's Social Equity Program Reopens March 1st" href="https://weedzly.com/library/washingtons-social-equity-program-reopens-march-1st">Washington's Social Equity Program Reopens March 1st</a><br /></strong><br />Cannabis has been legal for purchase in Washington at medical dispensaries since 2012 and recreational ones since 2014. The market has seen consistent growth year over year, until <a href="July%201,%202015,%20this%20tax%20system%20was%20changed%20to%20a%20single,%20retail-level%2037%%20excise%20tax.%20(All%20taxes%20are%20in%20addition%20to%20the%20usual%20business%20and%20occupation%20and%20sales%20taxes.)">last year</a>, when pot sales declined for the first time in a decade. Legislators in Washington are now trying to enact new laws that could further negatively impact the industry for both consumers &amp; businesses.&nbsp;Washington has had a 37% tax on cannabis retail sales since July 1, 2015. It was taxed a different way before, but July 1st is when they switched to the flat 37% rate. <a title="Medical cannabis users who have a medical card" href="https://weedzly.com/library/how-to-get-a-medical-marijuana-card-in-washington">Medical cannabis users who have a medical card</a> are able to avoid this tax by purchasing at a medical marijuana dispensary. The LCB is the governmental body in Washington that approves and oversees cannabis licenses and collects the current 37% excise tax.<br /><br />Now, representatives in the state want to increase the cannabis sales tax from 37% all the way up to 65% on certain products. Aside from raising taxes, they want to place additional restrictions on advertising and the sales of cannabis concentrates to those under 25. These bills are not beneficial for cannabis users nor <a href="https://weedzly.com/dispensaries">dispensaries</a>, so it's important that all the people of Washington understand the implications of these bills and let their voices be heard.</p>
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<div class="text-gray-400 flex self-end lg:self-center justify-center mt-2 gap-3 md:gap-4 lg:gap-1 lg:absolute lg:top-0 lg:translate-x-full lg:right-0 lg:mt-0 lg:pl-2 visible">Representative Lauren Davis introduced <a href="https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2023-24/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1641.pdf?q=20230130181616">HB 1641</a> titled "<em>Addressing public health challenges of high-potency cannabis products</em>" with support from Representatives Dent, Leavitt, Harris, Callan, Eslick, Walen, and Ortiz-Self. If this bill is passed, the recreational cannabis market in Washington could change for good. Here is what's being proposed in HB 1641:</div>
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<li><strong>Increase the tax rate for cannabis products with more than 35% THC but less than 60% THC to be taxed at 50%.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Increase the tax rate for cananbis products with more than 60% THC to be taxed at 65%.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Ban the sale of concentrates to people aged 21-24 who are not medical patients.</strong></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><strong>Ban the advertising of ANY THC product containing more than 35% THC.</strong></li>
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<p><strong>These proposals sound pretty outrageous... We've included the text from the bill itself and a link to the bill so you can check it out for yourself.&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><strong>Text From HB1641 Regarding The Tax Increase</strong></p>
<p><em>(ii) 50 percent of the selling price on each retail sale in this state of cannabis concentrates and useable cannabis with a THC concentration of 35 percent or greater but less than 60 percent; and&nbsp;</em></p>
<p><em>(iii) 65 percent of the selling price on each retail sale in this state of cannabis concentrates and useable cannabis with a THC concentration greater than 60 percent.<br /><br /></em><strong>Text From HB 1641 Regarding No More Sales of 35%+ THC Products To Those Under 25 Who Aren't Medical Patients</strong><br /><em>(c) (i) Retail outlets may not sell a cannabis product with greater than 35 percent total tetrahydrocannabinol to a person who is under age 25 who is not a qualifying patient or designated provider.&nbsp;<br /><br /></em><strong>Text From HB1641 Regarding Advertising Products Above 35% THC</strong></p>
<p><em>(1)(a) No licensed cannabis producer, processor, researcher, or retailer may place or maintain, or cause to be placed or maintained, any sign or other advertisement for a cannabis business or cannabis product, including useable cannabis, cannabis concentrates, or cannabis-infused product, in any form or through any medium whatsoever within one thousand feet of the perimeter of a school grounds, playground, recreation center or facility, child care </em><em>center, public park, or library, or any game arcade admission to which is not restricted to persons aged twenty-one years or older.</em></p>
<p><em>3 (b)(i) No person including, but not limited to, a cannabis producer, processor, researcher, transporter, or retailer may place, maintain, or distribute, or cause to be placed, maintained, or distributed, any advertisement or marketing material, in any form or through any medium whatsoever, for a product that contains greater than 35 percent total tetrahydrocannabinol.</em></p>
<p><em>9 (ii) The prohibition in this subsection (1)(b) applies to all forms of marketing and advertising including but not limited to marketing or advertising on web pages, social media, point-of-sale materials in retail outlets, radio, television, email, text messages, flyers, event promotion signs, mail, signs, billboards, and all other forms of advertising or marketing.&nbsp;<br /><br /></em>You can read the full bill yourself <a href="https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2023-24/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1641.pdf?q=20230130181616">here.</a></p>
<h2 id="0">HB 1642</h2>
<p>Under HB 1642, dispensaries would only be allowed to sell concentrate products with higher than 35% THC to medical cannabis patients. This basically eliminates the concentrate market for recreational dispensaries, which we all know is huge in Colorado.<br /><br /><strong>The exact text from the bill:</strong></p>
<p><em>Only cannabis retailers who hold a medical cannabis endorsement issued under this section may sell cannabis concentrates with a THC concentration greater than 35 percent. Cannabis concentrates with a THC concentration greater than 35 percent may be sold only to qualifying patients and designated providers who are entered into the medical cannabis authorization database and who hold a valid recognition card.<br /><br /></em>You can read the full bill <a href="https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2023-24/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1642.pdf">here</a>.</p>
<h3 id="3">What Would Happen If These Were To Pass?</h3>
<p>If these bills were to pass, the Washington cannabis market would take a huge hit. A lot of cannabis users have access to black market weed but still opt to go the legal route. A lot of users who smoke concentrates would either make their own at home or purchase what they need the traditional way. For some smokers who wanted to pay a 65% tax, they wouldn't even be able to, as the bill wants to ban the sale of concentrates to those who are under 25 that don't have a medical cannabis card. Aside from the negative impacts on cannabis consumers, dispensaries will take a massive hit in revenue because of these changes.</p>
<p><img title="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1675278847/articles/sbltnmkrtdnxnhv2o5j5.jpg" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1675278847/articles/sbltnmkrtdnxnhv2o5j5.jpg" alt="Cannabis Concentrate Wax" width="250" height="250" /></p>
<h3 id="4">How You Can Testify Against HB 1641</h3>
<p><strong>Step 1:</strong> Go to <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/House">https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/House</a> and select "<strong>Regulated Substances &amp; Gaming</strong>" from the Committee dropdown menu. After selecting that, you need to choose a meeting time. The soonest one is <strong>"02/02/2023 at 8:00am". </strong>Then you'll see 3 options, select <strong>HB 1641</strong>. After you've selected that, you 'll be able to choose a meeting time. <strong>&nbsp;</strong>Select that then you'll be able to pick the type of testimony you'd like to provide.<br /><strong><br /><img title="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1675277194/articles/xq24qlksnevpa9dayevu.png" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1675277194/articles/xq24qlksnevpa9dayevu.png" alt="Regulated Substance Meeting Guide" width="250" height="138" /><br /><br />Step 2: </strong>After you choose your method of testimony, you'll see where you can fill in your info. Fill in your information and make sure to put <strong>CON</strong> as your position. After you've completed the form, submit it and you're done.</p>
<h3 id="5">How You Can Testify Against HB 1642</h3>
<p><strong>Step 1:</strong> Go to <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/House">https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/House</a> and select "<strong>Regulated Substances &amp; Gaming</strong>" from the Committee dropdown menu. After selecting that, you need to choose a meeting time. The soonest one is <strong>"02/02/2023 8:00am". </strong>After choosing that time you'll see 3 options. Select <strong>HB 1642</strong>.<strong>&nbsp;</strong>After you do that you'll be able to pick the type of testimony you'd like to provide.<br /><br /><img title="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1675278000/articles/gconjux3ru19hkh9gz41.png" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1675278000/articles/gconjux3ru19hkh9gz41.png" alt="Testifying Washington State" width="250" height="124" /></p>
<p><strong>Step 2: </strong>After you choose your method of testimony, you'll see where you can fill in your info. Fill in your information and make sure to put <strong>CON</strong> as your position. After you've completed the form, submit it and you're done.<br /><br />If these bills were to pass, these would drastically impact the cannabis market in Washington state for the worse. Plenty of customers who currently make purchases at dispensaries will no longer be allowed to, reducing revenues for legitimate dispensaries and forcing Washington residents to turn to the street for black market products. There's still a ways to go before this bill passes, but if your a Washington state resident who is against these bills, make sure to testify so that the legislators can hear your opinion on the matter.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 id="1">Legalizing Home Grow</h2>
<p>On a more positive note, Representatives Kloba, Ormsby, Doglio, Goodman, Wylie, Fosse, Gregerson, Morgan, and Reed have introduced a new bill titled HB 1614 that would legalize home cultivation. This bill is titled HB 1614, and would allow for residents to cultivate up to 6 plants per person, with a maximum of 15 per household. The exact text from the bill is below.</p>
<h2 id="2">HB 1614</h2>
<p><img title="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1675288941/articles/dafd0ptaly92ukp3afzr.jpg" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1675288941/articles/dafd0ptaly92ukp3afzr.jpg" alt="Cannabis Plants Cultivating " width="250" height="250" /></p>
<p><em>(7)(a) It is not a violation of this section, this chapter, or any other provision of Washington state law for a person 21 years of age or older to produce or possess no more than six plants on the premises of the housing unit occupied by the person, if the person complies with the requirements of this subsection.</em><br /><br /><em>(d) No more than 15 plants may be grown at any one time on the premises of a single housing unit, regardless of the number of residents living on the premises of the housing unit.</em></p>
<p><em>(e) All plants grown under this subsection must be clearly marked with the name, residential address, and date of birth of the person growing the plants, and the date on which the plants were planted.&nbsp;<br /><br /></em>If you're a stoner who's on a budget, home growing your own cannabis may be a good option for you if it's one day allowed . It's usually much more cost effective to grow your own cannabis rather than to get it from a dispensary. <br /><br />You can find the full HB 1614 bill <a href="https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2023-24/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1614.pdf?q=20230130181437">here</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<h3 id="6">How You Can Show Your Support For HB 1614</h3>
<p><strong>Step 1:</strong> Go to <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/House">https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/House</a> and select "<strong>Regulated Substances &amp; Gaming</strong>" from the Committee dropdown menu. After selecting that, you need to choose a meeting time. The soonest one is <strong>"02/02/2023 at 8:00am". </strong>Then you'll see 3 options, select <strong>HB 1614</strong>. After you've selected that, you 'll be able to choose a meeting time. <strong>&nbsp;</strong>Select that then you'll be able to pick the type of testimony you'd like to provide.</p>
<p><img title="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1675289252/articles/vemhfrgoxagvbwbsl27f.png" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1675289252/articles/vemhfrgoxagvbwbsl27f.png" alt="Choosing Time For Testimony" width="250" height="113" /><br /><strong>Step 2: </strong>After you choose your method of testimony, you'll see where you can fill in your info. Fll in your information and make sure to put <strong>PRO </strong>as your position. After you've completed the form, submit it and you're done.<br /><br />Legalizing home cultivation is a great step in the right direction for cannabis users in Washington. Being able to grow 6 plants should be able to provide you with enough weed that you don't have to go out and make any extra purchases. This bill has not passed yet, so if you want it to become reality make sure to go show your support for it.&nbsp;</p>
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