Washington: House Lawmakers Move To Lift Home Grow Ban, Reject Proposed THC Potency Limits

Members of the House Committee on Regulated Substances and Gaming have advanced legislation, HB 2194, allowing adults to home cultivate personal use quantities of cannabis.

As amended and passed by the Committee, it permits an adult to grow up to four marijuana plants in their residence or up to ten plants per household. Those who grow additional plants would be subject to civil penalties. Committee members passed the bill by a 7 to 4 vote.

Despite having been one of the first two states to initially legalize the adult use marijuana market, Washington is one of only five legalization states that disallows home cultivation. In recent days, NORML has generated over 500 communications to lawmakers in support of HB 2194, opining, “State regulations governing the alcohol market permit adults the option to legally brew non-commercial quantities of their own alcohol and it is consistent with this policy to similarly permit home cultivation.”

Committee members on the same day also amended legislation, HB 2320, that sought to bar the sale of certain higher-THC cannabis products (those containing more than 35 percent THC) to those between the ages of 21 and 25. NORML has consistently opposed imposing THC potency bans, stating that “proposed product bans will only perpetuate the unregulated market.”

As amended, the bill proposes that retailers provide informational notices about the potential health implications of more concentrated THC products. A Senate companion bill, SB 6220, has also been amended to postpone any future action on limiting higher-THC products until at least July 1, 2027.

Additional information on pending legislation is available from NORML’s Take Action Center.