Legislation to legalize personal marijuana cultivation in Washington State has been scheduled for a vote in its committee of origin on February 11.
House Bill 1449, filed by a group of 16 state representatives, has been scheduled for an executive session vote on February 11 at 1:30pm in the House Consumer Protection & Business Committee. Typically the committee will not schedule a vote unless there’s enough support to approve it.
Under the proposed law, those 21 and older would be allowed grow up to six cannabis plants at a private residence, with a maximum of 15 plants allowed per household. Although the current possession limit for cannabis in Washington is one ounce, HB 1449 would allow those who grow marijuana to possess whatever is harvested from those plants.
Cannabis plants visible from public spaces or neighboring properties, or with odors detectable outside the home, would be prohibited, though it would not be a criminal offence (instead it would be a Class 3 civil infraction). Exceeding the household limit of 15 plants would carry harsher penalties, with possession of 16 or more plants classified as a Class C felony.
Currently, personal marijuana cultivation remains a felony in Washington, punishable by up to five years in prison. Among the 23 states with legalized recreational marijuana, only two others maintain similar prohibitions.
