In 1998, Washington state passed I-692, allowing citizens with debilitating conditions to grow medicinal cannabis at home. The actual regulation of medical cannabis was largely left to the local governments until 2010 when the state attempted to regulate MMJ statewide. However, due to a last minute waiver by then-governor Kristine Gregoire, the attempt largely failed. Despite the falter, a set of loose regulations did emerge governing collective gardens and setting designated providers.

Next, in 2012, Washington passed I-502, bringing regulated recreational cannabis to the Northwest. Unfortunately, I-502 did not tackle the elusive regulation of the medical cannabis system that had been flourishing in the Evergreen State. After trying again and failing in 2014, lawmakers finally passed legislation during the 2015 legislative session that merged the unregulated medical cannabis system into the regulated recreational system.

Despite widespread opposition from medical cannabis activists against the two laws, the state has pressed forward with the merging of medical and recreational cannabis....