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Washington Marijuana Laws
The state of Washington has few divisions of penalties for possession or sale of marijuana based on the amount according to existing Washington state marijuana laws. For this reason, the fine for the possession of ½ oz will be the same as the penalty for possession of 39 oz. However, in terms of harshness and in comparison with the penalties of other states, Washington has a moderate sentencing for first-time offenses. Subsequent offenses offer doubled sentencing. Any minor who is convicted of a marijuana-related offense will have their driving privileges suspended for a period of up to one year. Any individual convicted of a misdemeanor offense will be penalized with a mandatory minimum sentence of 24 hours of incarceration with a fine of $250. Washington state marijuana growing laws also are charged on the same sentencing schedule as possession.
According to the DEA, the state of Washington is estimated to have a yearly marijuana crop totaling over 88,000 lbs. At retail market value, this crop is expected to sell for between $438 million dollars and $701 million dollars. In addition, in 2002 the state of Washington arrested 13,712 individuals for a marijuana-related offense. These 13,712 individuals account for 4.73% of the total arrests within Washington for that year. Of these arrests, 12,632 were for the possession of marijuana, whereas only 1,080 were for the sale.
Medical Marijuana Users
On November 3, 1998, voters approved Measure 692, which effectively made legal the use of marijuana as a medicinal drug. Patients who have valid documentation are legally approved to possess up to a 60-day supply of marijuana for the treatment of such illnesses as cancer, HIV and AIDS, cachexia, Multiple Sclerosis, epilepsy, glaucoma, and pain that is otherwise unrelieved by other medications and/or treatments. Patients are not required to carry any form of identification to authorize their use of marijuana as a medicinal drug.
Non-Medical Users:
Washington State recognizes marijuana for legal use in medicinal purposes. However, individuals found possessing marijuana without valid documentation, or patients with valid documentation who possess more than a 60-day supply, may be tried on criminal charges of possession, sale, and/or cultivation with the following penalties.
Penalties for Marijuana in Washington:
Possession or Use:
|
Possession of no more than 40 g |
Misdemeanor |
Penalties include a mandatory minimum sentence of incarceration for a period of one day (max 90 days) with a fine of between $250 and $500 |
|
Possession of greater than 40 g |
Felony |
Penalties include incarceration for a period of up to 5 years with a fine of $10,000 |
Selling or Growing Marijuana:
|
Cultivation of no more than 1-39 g |
Felony |
Penalties include incarceration for a period of up to 6 months with a fine of $10,000 |
|
Cultivation of greater than 40 g |
Felony |
Penalties include incarceration for a period of up to 5 years with a fine of $10,000 |
|
Sale to a minor who is 3 years or younger than the seller |
Felony |
Standard penalty applies, however incarceration period and amount of fine will be doubled |
Miscellaneous:
|
Possession, manufacture, or delivery of dirty paraphernalia |
Misdemeanor |
Penalties include incarceration for a period of up to 90 days with a fine of $1,000 |
Penalties for Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana
Washington State has no specific law for Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID). However, any motorists who are found to be driving under the influence of marijuana may be criminally charged for possession of marijuana as well as for driving under the influence (similar to driving under the influence of alcohol).
Legal Help with a Marijuana Offense
If you are seeking help with a marijuana related offense, a marijuana lawyer or marijuana attorney can provide you with extensive legal counsel. A marijuana attorney from the state of Washington will have knowledge of current marijuana law trends within the state and will know how best to secure a more lenient sentence for their defendants. When obtaining a marijuana lawyer is difficult due to monetary concerns, a court-ordered counsel can be provided.