Cannabis Possession Limits in Washington
What adults 21+ can legally possess under Washington State law, plus limits on concentrates, edibles, and home cultivation.
Washington was one of the first two U.S. states to legalize adult-use cannabis, but its rules are stricter than people assume. Adults 21+ can carry up to an ounce of flower, but home growing is still illegal for recreational users — only registered medical patients can cultivate. Concentrate and edible caps are separate and easy to trip over if you're carrying multiple products. Federal law still prohibits everything. This is a summary, not legal advice.
The basic adult-use limits
Under RCW 69.50.360, an adult 21 or older in Washington may possess, for personal use, the following amounts of cannabis purchased from a licensed retailer [1] Strong evidence:
- 1 ounce (28.35 grams) of usable cannabis (flower/bud)
- 16 ounces of cannabis-infused product in solid form (edibles like brownies, gummies)
- 72 ounces of cannabis-infused product in liquid form (beverages, tinctures)
- 7 grams of cannabis concentrate (oils, wax, shatter, vape cartridges)
These are separate categories, not a single combined weight. You could legally carry the maximum of each simultaneously, though carrying near-max quantities can attract law enforcement scrutiny.
Possession above these amounts is a criminal offense. Possession of more than 40 grams of usable cannabis by an adult is a Class C felony under RCW 69.50.4013 [2] Strong evidence. Amounts between the legal limit and 40 grams are a misdemeanor.
Where you can — and can't — possess and use it
Legal possession does not equal legal use anywhere. Washington prohibits public consumption of cannabis. Under RCW 69.50.445, opening a package of cannabis or consuming it in view of the general public is a civil infraction [3] Strong evidence.
Other location restrictions:
- Federal land: National parks, national forests, military bases, and federal buildings remain under federal law, where cannabis is a Schedule I controlled substance [4] Strong evidence.
- Vehicles: Driving under the influence is illegal. Washington has a per se THC limit of 5 ng/mL of active THC in blood (RCW 46.61.502) [5] Strong evidence. Cannabis in a vehicle must be in a sealed container, similar to open-container alcohol rules.
- Crossing state lines: Illegal under federal law, even into other legal states.
- Rentals and workplaces: Landlords and employers can prohibit possession or use on their property.
Home cultivation: mostly illegal
This is where Washington is unusually strict among legal states. Recreational home growing is not permitted. Washington is the only adult-use state on the West Coast that bars home cultivation for non-medical users [6] Strong evidence.
Growing any amount of cannabis without a license or medical authorization is a felony under RCW 69.50.401.
Medical patients registered in the Department of Health's medical cannabis authorization database may grow up to 6 plants and possess up to 8 ounces of usable cannabis from those plants. A healthcare practitioner may authorize up to 15 plants and 16 ounces if medically necessary (RCW 69.51A.210) [7] Strong evidence. Multiple patients living together can form a cooperative of up to four patients growing together, subject to registration and location restrictions.
Legislative attempts to legalize recreational home grow (e.g., HB 1614 in 2023) have repeatedly failed as of the last-verified date.
Purchase limits vs. possession limits
The possession limits above are also the per-transaction purchase limits at licensed retailers under WAC 314-55-079 [8] Strong evidence. A retailer will refuse to sell you more than one ounce of flower (or the equivalent in other product categories) in a single transaction.
Washington does not track cumulative purchases across stores in a consumer-facing database, but the legal possession cap does not increase based on how much you buy. If you buy an ounce at two different stores in the same day, you are over the possession limit as soon as you have both in your possession.
Gifting, sharing, and selling
Washington law does not contain an explicit personal gifting exception like Colorado's. Any transfer of cannabis outside a licensed retailer is technically a delivery, and delivery without a license is a criminal offense under RCW 69.50.401 [2] Strong evidence. In practice, small transfers between adults are rarely prosecuted, but the statute makes no distinction between selling and giving away.
"Gifting" business models (buying a sticker, getting "free" cannabis) that appeared in D.C. and New York are illegal in Washington and have been the subject of WSLCB enforcement actions [evidence:weak — enforcement patterns are not systematically published].
Recent and pending changes
Notable developments as of the last-verified date:
- 2022 SB 5796: Changed drug possession law framework following the State v. Blake decision, but did not modify cannabis-specific limits.
- 2023: Home-grow legalization bills again failed in committee.
- 2022 HB 1859: Renamed "marijuana" to "cannabis" throughout state code [9] Strong evidence. Substantive limits unchanged.
- Federal: The DEA proposed rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III in 2024, but this would not directly change Washington possession limits [10] Strong evidence.
Laws change. Verify current limits with the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board before relying on this article.
This is not legal advice
This article is informational only and is not legal advice. Cannabis remains illegal under U.S. federal law regardless of state law. Statutes, regulations, and enforcement priorities change. If you are facing a criminal charge, an employment issue, a housing dispute, or a border/immigration question involving cannabis, consult a licensed Washington attorney.
Information last verified: June 2024. Statutes cited are current as of that date. Always check the current text of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and Washington Administrative Code (WAC) at the Washington State Legislature website.
Sources
- Government Revised Code of Washington § 69.50.360 — Marijuana retailer's license — Sales of usable marijuana and marijuana-infused products.
- Government Revised Code of Washington § 69.50.4013 — Possession of controlled substance — Penalty.
- Government Revised Code of Washington § 69.50.445 — Opening package of or consuming marijuana in view of general public — Penalty.
- Government U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration — Drug Scheduling: Marijuana listed as Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act.
- Government Revised Code of Washington § 46.61.502 — Driving under the influence.
- Reported Young, B. (2023). 'Washington remains only West Coast state banning marijuana home grows.' The Seattle Times.
- Government Revised Code of Washington § 69.51A.210 — Qualifying patients and designated providers — Possession and cultivation limits.
- Government Washington Administrative Code § 314-55-079 — Marijuana retailer license.
- Government Washington State Legislature (2022). HB 1859 — Amending references to marijuana throughout the Revised Code of Washington.
- Reported Lovelace, B. Jr. (2024). 'DEA moves to reclassify marijuana as a lower-risk drug.' NBC News.
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