Washington: Legislature Expands Medical Marijuana Law

Olympia, WA: House and Senate lawmakers approved legislation last week to expand the state's nearly twelve-year- old medical marijuana law.

As approved, Senate Bill 5798 will allow additional health care professionals – including naturopaths, physician's assistants, osteopathic physicians, osteopathic physicians assistants, and advanced registered nurse practitioners – to legally recommend marijuana therapy to their patients. Under present law, only licensed physicians may legally recommend medicinal cannabis.

Washington lawmakers are the first legislators to codify these expanded recommendation rights into state law.

The measure now goes before Democrat Governor Christine Gregoire for final approval. Gregoire is believed to be supportive of the measure.