Legalize Washington Home Grows (HB 1019)
House Bill 1019 was introduced in early 2021, and if passed, it will allow each household to grow up to 6 plants.
Additional restrictions are that the plants can’t be visible to people outside of the household (so you couldn’t legally grow in your backyard if your neighbor can see into it at eye level), plants can’t be “readily smelled” from another public or private property, and landlords will reserve the right to forbid renters from growing. Another provision in the bill states that containers with more than an ounce of flower need to be labeled with the owner’s name, address, birthday, blah blah blah, but I think we all know how to get around that one.
As for the enforcement of home grow regulations, the bill specifically states that the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) has no authority or responsibility to enforce or investigate any of the requirements for home grows. This bill is a no brainer!
How to Take Action
Check the bill status page to see if the bill is in committee, on the house calendar, or on the senate calendar.
Committee: When the bill is scheduled for a public hearing, go to this page and register to testify remotely or submit a written testimony in favor of the bill.
House: When the bill is on the House calendar, contact your Representatives and ask them to vote in favor of this bill. Feel free to use the sample email below.
Senate: When the bill is on the Senate calendar, contact your Senators and ask them to vote in favor of this bill. Feel free to use the sample email below.
Share this page with fellow patients & users and encourage them to do the same.
Sample Email
Dear [REPRESENTATIVE OR SENATOR’S NAME],
My name is [YOUR NAME] , a [YOUR CITY] resident and member of Patients and Users for Reasonable Policy. I’m writing to request that you support and pass HB 1019 to legalize personal cannabis cultivation (aka “home grows”) in Washington.
You’re probably aware that Washington is one of two states in the country that has a regulated marijuana economy and continues to disallow personal cultivation. You may also be aware that similar bills have been introduced nearly every year since initiative 502 went into effect 6 years ago but stalled because it’s been viewed as a “low priority.”
I know much of the legislation introduced this year will be intended to address the COVID-19 pandemic, and as such, I implore you to prioritize and implement HB 1019 as quickly as possible because it will have a subtle but important effect on COVID-related issues. It is frankly difficult to maintain adequate social distancing protocols when visiting a brick and mortar cannabis dispensary, and considering cannabis delivery is still illegal, depriving your constituents of the legal right to cultivate their own cannabis puts them at risk because they have to choose between being exposed at a physical [but essential] business or being an outright criminal.
ESSB 1531 was passed in 2017, which directed the WSLCB to study regulatory structures for home grows. Law enforcement officials presented many slippery slope arguments, and their only valid concern is “increased youth access” to cannabis. Considering the fact that we as a state trust adults and parents to safely store firearms, alcohol, pharmaceuticals, nicotine products, knives, laundry detergent pods, and other household poisons where their children can’t access them, we should be consistent in adding cannabis plants and homegrown cannabis flower to this list, especially considering that death by cannabis consumption is theoretically impossible.
Alternatively, it may be time to introduce further restrictions on the possession and storage of alcohol, firearms, pharmaceuticals, nicotine products, knives, laundry detergent pods, and household poisons because all of those items pose more immediate risks for harming the youth.
Please do the right thing and vote to legalize personal cannabis cultivation immediately. Thank you for your time and consideration.
