Pubdate: Thu, 12 Jan 2017
Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (WA)
Copyright: 2017 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Contact: P.O. Box 1909, Seattle, WA 98111-1909
Website: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/408
Author: Zosha Millman

BILL INTRODUCED TO ALLOW MARIJUANA GROWN AT HOME

A bill has been introduced in the state Legislature that would allow
marijuana users to grow their own supply at home.

Washington is the only state that allows for retail, recreational
marijuana but doesn't also permit cannabis to be grown at home unless by
registered medical patients. The new legislation, HB 1092, introduced
Wednesday by state Rep. Sherry Appleton, D-Poulsbo, would change that.

If enacted, all adults (21 and over) would be able to grow up to six
plants on their private premises so long as the yield is no greater than
24 ounces. Homes with more than one adult would be permitted 12 plants for
up to 48 ounces of usable marijuana.

As Washington law stands now, only medical marijuana patients can grow as
many as 15 plants, depending on their registration status in a state
database, in addition to greater limits on the sale of retail products.

"Washington has been fairly unique, in that it doesn't allow for
recreational home grow(ing); even Colorado, who legalized before
Washington, allows for it. So in some ways it makes sense that we're
seeing this kind of legislation," said Daniel Shortt, an attorney at
Seattle law firm Harris Bricken, who specializes in cannabis law.

The bill was only read on Wednesday, so it has a long way to go before
passing. Still to be answered are questions about enforcement, tax revenue
and how it will work in conjunction with the current medical marijuana
rules.

One thing Shortt anticipates is that a new law will have to answer for how
home growers would be able to acquire seeds.

"The way the entire marijuana market is set up, producers and processors
can sell to retailers, who can sell to the public. Would that mean that
now, to get these seeds, potential home growers are getting seeds from the
retail store?" said Shortt. "If those seeds are being sold, that's really
the only place where the government could actually get revenue from
taxes."

And that's all assuming that the Trump administration doesn't put the
kibosh on states' recreational marijuana markets.
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