This compilation of frequently asked questions (FAQ) contains answers to common questions about Initiative 692 (the Washington State medical use of marijuana act) as well as general questions about medical marijuana in Washington State.
This FAQ is compiled by Ben Livingston. Updated June 27, 2006. Send corrections and clarifications to ben at hemp dot net. In no event shall the authors or distributors be liable to anyone for anything.
Copyleft 1998-2006 Ben Livingston.
1. What is I-692?
I-692 is the 1998 medical marijuana initiative passed by 59% of Washington voters on November 3, 1998. It is codified as RCW 69.51A.
2. What does I-692 do?
I-692 allows for the medical use of marijuana by patients with certain terminal or debilitating conditions. It authorizes physicians to advise patients about the risks and benefits of the medical use of marijuana. Qualifying patients and their primary caregivers may use the law as an "affirmative defense" in court if they are prosecuted. The law does not protect patients or caregivers from arrest or prosecution, it only allows them to present a medical marijuana defense in court.
I-692 does not affect federal law, which still makes marijuana possession, distribution or manufacture illegal for any purpose.
3. When does I-692 take effect?
In Washington, initiatives take effect 30 days after they are voted on unless otherwise specified by the initiative. This means I-692 went into effect on December 3, 1998.
4. What conditions can marijuana be used for?
I-692 defines "terminal or debilitating medical condition" as:
The Washington State Medical Quality Assurance Commission has added the following conditions:
Rejected petitions. As part of the June 19, 2000 order adding various diseases to the list, the MQAC denied the inclusion of insomnia and post traumatic stress disorder. On November 22, 2000, the MQAC denied a petition to add manic or chronic depression to the list of conditions (PDF copy of order). On November 19, 2004, the MQAC denied a petition to add depression and severe anxiety to the list of conditions (PDF copy of order).
5. Where can I use medical marijuana? Medical marijuana can not be used in public. It is a misdemeanor "to use or
display medical marijuana in a manner or place which is open to the view
of the general public." Additionally, I-692 states "Nothing in this
chapter requires any accommodation of any medical use of marijuana in any
place of employment, in any school bus or on any school grounds, or in any
youth center." 6. How much medical marijuana can I possess at one time? You can possess no more than a sixty-day supply of medical marijuana. How
much marijuana constitutes a sixty-day was not defined by I-692. This is one of
the biggest "problems" with Washington's medical marijuana law. In many cases where
a patient is arrested, police and prosecutors accept that they are a patient
but claim that they have more than a 60-day supply. 7. What if my physician won't recommend medical marijuana? I-692 states that "Nothing in this chapter requires any physician to
authorize the use of medical marijuana for a patient." In many cases, doctors will not recommend medical marijuana. They often
fear the federal government, which has in the past threatened doctors who
recommend medical marijuana. However, a federal appeals court ruled in
October of 2002 that the government cannot penalize doctors who recommend
medical marijuana to their patients. See
Conant v. Walters. If your doctor won't recommend medical marijuana, educate them. If marijuana genuinely helps you for a qualifying condition and your doctor still will not recommend marijuana, you may want to find a doctor whose medical knowledge and advice you trust. Don't look for a "pot friendly" doctor -- most doctors don't want patients coming to them specifically for medical marijuana recommendations. Asking around isn't much help -- few patients will disclose this information out of respect for their doctor, and nobody has a list. Just seek out an intelligent doctor whose medical opinion you respect. 8. Who qualifies as a "primary caregiver"? A primary caregiver is a person who has been designated in writing by a
patient to be responsible for the housing, health or care of a patient.
Additionally, a primary caregiver must be over 18 years old. 9. How do I get medical marijuana? Patients and primary caregivers are allowed to grow medical marijuana. For
more information, contact Green Cross Patient Co-op at (206) 762-0630. 10. Where can I get more information? For a more in-depth guide to I-692, visit the I-692 Guide from Washington Citizen for Medical Rights.
More information, including pending legal cases, can be found at CannabisMD.org.