Starting last month, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) changed its requirements for medical marijuana patients. Medical patients must now hold recognition cards issued by medical marijuana distributors.
Possession of a recognition card allows designated users 21 and older to purchase products sales-tax free; purchase up to three times the current legal limit for recreational users; purchase high-THC infused products; have full protection from arrest, and legal prosecution; and grow more than four marijuana plants at the holder’s current residence.
Margie Lemberger, owner of Bingen’s Margie’s Pot Shop, says if people are interested in receiving a recognition card they must follow the medical marijuana authorization form instructions to a T.
Only a few have been denied recognition cards due to inadequately filled out forms. Those who were denied, “come back with a valid form,” Lemberger said.
The main difference is the new rules allow for a maximum of 15 plants per property with a doctor’s recommendation, explained Lemberger. “Getting the Washington State Marijuana Recognition Card is now required to have more than four plants with a doctor’s recommendation,” Lemberger noted.
The new cards are part of the state-wide medical marijuana database, which was launched July 1.
Medically endorsed retails stores throughout Washington can provide the cards to medical marijuana patients who have a completed authorization form from an authorized healthcare practitioner.
Margie’s Pot Shop was quick to manage the update and has adapted to the new data base, which runs through airliftapp.com. Since the change, Lemberger estimates about 51 cards have been issued to medical marijuana customers this past month.
The new system documents growers in the area, which local law enforcement can access to determine who’s conducting legal growing operations. “Now, the police can see who is on the data base for more than four plants,” Lemberger noted.
There have been a few bugs in the new system, Lemberger added. “There is a picture problem that comes up all the time if the customer has white hair,” explained Lemberger.
“The facial recognition program in the Web site does not like white hair against the white background that they want,” Lemberger said. “We changed the place where we take the picture, and sometimes have to edit off hair on the top of their head to get it to accept the picture. “
The DOH released a statement July 1 announcing that the medical marijuana database was operational, stating the database was “Necessary to produce medical marijuana ‘recognition’ cards.”
According to the DOH, “Patient safety is a priority, and DOH is committed to ensuring that all marijuana and marijuana products sold are safe.”
Medical marijuana users who are issued a recognition card are not permitted to sell personal harvest from home grown plants, unless licensed with the Liquor Board.
Lemberger and her employees diligence in implementing the program hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Department of Health. “We got a little ‘Thank You’ e-mail from the Department of Health thanking us for our assistance in getting it started,” said Lemberger in an e-mail to The Enterprise.
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