CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6032

Chapter 371, Laws of 2007

60th Legislature

2007 Regular Session

MARIJUANA--MEDICAL USE

EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/22/07

Passed by the Senate April 20, 2007

YEAS 37 NAYS 9

BRAD OWEN

President of the Senate

Passed by the House April 18, 2007

YEAS 68 NAYS 27

FRANK CHOPP

Speaker of the House of Representatives

CERTIFICATE

I, Thomas Hoemann, Secretary of

the Senate of the State of

Washington, do hereby certify that

the attached is ENGROSSED

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6032 as

passed by the Senate and the House

of Representatives on the dates

hereon set forth.

THOMAS HOEMANN

Secretary

Approved May 8, 2007, 4:06 p.m.

CHRISTINE GREGOIRE

Governor of the State of Washington

FILED

May 10, 2007

Secretary of State

State of Washington

_____________________________________________

ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6032

_____________________________________________

AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

Passed Legislature - 2007 Regular Session

State of Washington 60th Legislature 2007 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care (originally sponsored

by Senators Kohl-Welles, McCaslin, Kline, Regala and Keiser)

READ FIRST TIME 02/28/07.

1 AN ACT Relating to medical use of marijuana; amending RCW

2 69.51A.005, 69.51A.010, 69.51A.030, 69.51A.040, 69.51A.060, and

3 69.51A.070; adding a new section to chapter 69.51A RCW; and creating a

4 new section.

5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

6 NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature intends to clarify the law

7 on medical marijuana so that the lawful use of this substance is not

8 impaired and medical practitioners are able to exercise their best

9 professional judgment in the delivery of medical treatment, qualifying

10 patients may fully participate in the medical use of marijuana, and

11 designated providers may assist patients in the manner provided by this

12 act without fear of state criminal prosecution. This act is also

13 intended to provide clarification to law enforcement and to all

14 participants in the judicial system.

15 Sec. 2. RCW 69.51A.005 and 1999 c 2 s 2 are each amended to read

16 as follows:

17 The people of Washington state find that some patients with

18 terminal or debilitating illnesses, under their physician's care, may

p. 1 ESSB 6032.SL

1 benefit from the medical use of marijuana. Some of the illnesses for

2 which marijuana appears to be beneficial include chemotherapy-related

3 nausea and vomiting in cancer patients; AIDS wasting syndrome; severe

4 muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis and other spasticity

5 disorders; epilepsy; acute or chronic glaucoma; and some forms of

6 intractable pain.

7 The people find that humanitarian compassion necessitates that the

8 decision to authorize the medical use of marijuana by patients with

9 terminal or debilitating illnesses is a personal, individual decision,

10 based upon their physician's professional medical judgment and

11 discretion.

12 Therefore, the people of the state of Washington intend that:

13 Qualifying patients with terminal or debilitating illnesses who, in

14 the judgment of their physicians, ((would)) may benefit from the

15 medical use of marijuana, shall not be found guilty of a crime under

16 state law for their possession and limited use of marijuana;

17 Persons who act as ((primary caregivers)) designated providers to

18 such patients shall also not be found guilty of a crime under state law

19 for assisting with the medical use of marijuana; and

20 Physicians also be excepted from liability and prosecution for the

21 authorization of marijuana use to qualifying patients for whom, in the

22 physician's professional judgment, medical marijuana may prove

23 beneficial.

24 Sec. 3. RCW 69.51A.010 and 1999 c 2 s 6 are each amended to read

25 as follows:

26 The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter

27 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

28 (1) "Designated provider" means a person who:

29 (a) Is eighteen years of age or older;

30 (b) Has been designated in writing by a patient to serve as a

31 designated provider under this chapter;

32 (c) Is prohibited from consuming marijuana obtained for the

33 personal, medical use of the patient for whom the individual is acting

34 as designated provider; and

35 (d) Is the designated provider to only one patient at any one time.

36 (2) "Medical use of marijuana" means the production, possession, or

ESSB 6032.SL p. 2

1 administration of marijuana, as defined in RCW 69.50.101(q), for the

2 exclusive benefit of a qualifying patient in the treatment of his or

3 her terminal or debilitating illness.

4 (((2) "Primary caregiver" means a person who:

5 (a) Is eighteen years of age or older;

6 (b) Is responsible for the housing, health, or care of the patient;

7 (c) Has been designated in writing by a patient to perform the

8 duties of primary caregiver under this chapter.))

9 (3) "Qualifying patient" means a person who:

10 (a) Is a patient of a physician licensed under chapter 18.71 or

11 18.57 RCW;

12 (b) Has been diagnosed by that physician as having a terminal or

13 debilitating medical condition;

14 (c) Is a resident of the state of Washington at the time of such

15 diagnosis;

16 (d) Has been advised by that physician about the risks and benefits

17 of the medical use of marijuana; and

18 (e) Has been advised by that physician that they may benefit from

19 the medical use of marijuana.

20 (4) "Terminal or debilitating medical condition" means:

21 (a) Cancer, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), multiple sclerosis,

22 epilepsy or other seizure disorder, or spasticity disorders; or

23 (b) Intractable pain, limited for the purpose of this chapter to

24 mean pain unrelieved by standard medical treatments and medications; or

25 (c) Glaucoma, either acute or chronic, limited for the purpose of

26 this chapter to mean increased intraocular pressure unrelieved by

27 standard treatments and medications; or

28 (d) Crohn's disease with debilitating symptoms unrelieved by

29 standard treatments or medications; or

30 (e) Hepatitis C with debilitating nausea or intractable pain

31 unrelieved by standard treatments or medications; or

32 (f) Diseases, including anorexia, which result in nausea, vomiting,

33 wasting, appetite loss, cramping, seizures, muscle spasms, or

34 spasticity, when these symptoms are unrelieved by standard treatments

35 or medications; or

36 (g) Any other medical condition duly approved by the Washington

37 state medical quality assurance ((board [commission])) commission in

p. 3 ESSB 6032.SL

1 consultation with the board of osteopathic medicine and surgery as

2 directed in this chapter.

3 (5) "Valid documentation" means:

4 (a) A statement signed by a qualifying patient's physician, or a

5 copy of the qualifying patient's pertinent medical records, which

6 states that, in the physician's professional opinion, the ((potential

7 benefits of the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the

8 health risks for a particular qualifying)) patient may benefit from the

9 medical use of marijuana; ((and))

10 (b) Proof of identity such as a Washington state driver's license

11 or identicard, as defined in RCW 46.20.035; and

12 (c) A copy of the physician statement described in (a) of this

13 subsection shall have the same force and effect as the signed original.

14 Sec. 4. RCW 69.51A.030 and 1999 c 2 s 4 are each amended to read

15 as follows:

16 A physician licensed under chapter 18.71 or 18.57 RCW shall be

17 excepted from the state's criminal laws and shall not be penalized in

18 any manner, or denied any right or privilege, for:

19 (1) Advising a qualifying patient about the risks and benefits of

20 medical use of marijuana or that the qualifying patient may benefit

21 from the medical use of marijuana where such use is within a

22 professional standard of care or in the individual physician's medical

23 judgment; or

24 (2) Providing a qualifying patient with valid documentation, based

25 upon the physician's assessment of the qualifying patient's medical

26 history and current medical condition, that the ((potential benefits of

27 the)) medical use of marijuana ((would likely outweigh the health risks

28 for the)) may benefit a particular qualifying patient.

29 Sec. 5. RCW 69.51A.040 and 1999 c 2 s 5 are each amended to read

30 as follows:

31 (1) If a law enforcement officer determines that marijuana is being

32 possessed lawfully under the medical marijuana law, the officer may

33 document the amount of marijuana, take a representative sample that is

34 large enough to test, but not seize the marijuana. A law enforcement

35 officer or agency shall not be held civilly liable for failure to seize

36 marijuana in this circumstance.

ESSB 6032.SL p. 4

1 (2) If charged with a violation of state law relating to marijuana,

2 any qualifying patient who is engaged in the medical use of marijuana,

3 or any designated ((primary caregiver)) provider who assists a

4 qualifying patient in the medical use of marijuana, will be deemed to

5 have established an affirmative defense to such charges by proof of his

6 or her compliance with the requirements provided in this chapter. Any

7 person meeting the requirements appropriate to his or her status under

8 this chapter shall be considered to have engaged in activities

9 permitted by this chapter and shall not be penalized in any manner, or

10 denied any right or privilege, for such actions.

11 (((2) The)) (3) A qualifying patient, if eighteen years of age or

12 older, or a designated provider shall:

13 (a) Meet all criteria for status as a qualifying patient or

14 designated provider;

15 (b) Possess no more marijuana than is necessary for the patient's

16 personal, medical use, not exceeding the amount necessary for a sixty-

17 day supply; and

18 (c) Present his or her valid documentation to any law enforcement

19 official who questions the patient or provider regarding his or her

20 medical use of marijuana.

21 (((3) The)) (4) A qualifying patient, if under eighteen years of

22 age at the time he or she is alleged to have committed the offense,

23 shall ((comply)) demonstrate compliance with subsection (((2))) (3)(a)

24 and (c) of this section. However, any possession under subsection

25 (((2))) (3)(b) of this section, as well as any production, acquisition,

26 and decision as to dosage and frequency of use, shall be the

27 responsibility of the parent or legal guardian of the qualifying

28 patient.

29 (((4) The designated primary caregiver shall:

30 (a) Meet all criteria for status as a primary caregiver to a

31 qualifying patient;

32 (b) Possess, in combination with and as an agent for the qualifying

33 patient, no more marijuana than is necessary for the patient's

34 personal, medical use, not exceeding the amount necessary for a sixty-

35 day supply;

36 (c) Present a copy of the qualifying patient's valid documentation

37 required by this chapter, as well as evidence of designation to act as

p. 5 ESSB 6032.SL

1 primary caregiver by the patient, to any law enforcement official

2 requesting such information;

3 (d) Be prohibited from consuming marijuana obtained for the

4 personal, medical use of the patient for whom the individual is acting

5 as primary caregiver; and

6 (e) Be the primary caregiver to only one patient at any one time.))

7 Sec. 6. RCW 69.51A.060 and 1999 c 2 s 8 are each amended to read

8 as follows:

9 (1) It shall be a misdemeanor to use or display medical marijuana

10 in a manner or place which is open to the view of the general public.

11 (2) Nothing in this chapter requires any health insurance provider

12 to be liable for any claim for reimbursement for the medical use of

13 marijuana.

14 (3) Nothing in this chapter requires any physician to authorize the

15 use of medical marijuana for a patient.

16 (4) Nothing in this chapter requires any accommodation of any on-

17 site medical use of marijuana in any place of employment, in any school

18 bus or on any school grounds, ((or)) in any youth center, in any

19 correctional facility, or smoking medical marijuana in any public place

20 as that term is defined in RCW 70.160.020.

21 (5) It is a class C felony to fraudulently produce any record

22 purporting to be, or tamper with the content of any record for the

23 purpose of having it accepted as, valid documentation under RCW

24 69.51A.010(((5))) (6)(a).

25 (6) No person shall be entitled to claim the affirmative defense

26 provided in RCW 69.51A.040 for engaging in the medical use of marijuana

27 in a way that endangers the health or well-being of any person through

28 the use of a motorized vehicle on a street, road, or highway.

29 Sec. 7. RCW 69.51A.070 and 1999 c 2 s 9 are each amended to read

30 as follows:

31 The Washington state medical quality assurance ((board

32 [commission])) commission in consultation with the board of osteopathic

33 medicine and surgery, or other appropriate agency as designated by the

34 governor, shall accept for consideration petitions submitted ((by

35 physicians or patients)) to add terminal or debilitating conditions to

36 those included in this chapter. In considering such petitions, the

ESSB 6032.SL p. 6

1 Washington state medical quality assurance ((board [commission]))

2 commission in consultation with the board of osteopathic medicine and

3 surgery shall include public notice of, and an opportunity to comment

4 in a public hearing upon, such petitions. The Washington state medical

5 quality assurance ((board [commission])) commission in consultation

6 with the board of osteopathic medicine and surgery shall, after

7 hearing, approve or deny such petitions within one hundred eighty days

8 of submission. The approval or denial of such a petition shall be

9 considered a final agency action, subject to judicial review.

10 NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. A new section is added to chapter 69.51A RCW

11 to read as follows:

12 (1) By July 1, 2008, the department of health shall adopt rules

13 defining the quantity of marijuana that could reasonably be presumed to

14 be a sixty-day supply for qualifying patients; this presumption may be

15 overcome with evidence of a qualifying patient's necessary medical use.

16 (2) As used in this chapter, "sixty-day supply" means that amount

17 of marijuana that qualifying patients would reasonably be expected to

18 need over a period of sixty days for their personal medical use.

19 During the rule-making process, the department shall make a good faith

20 effort to include all stakeholders identified in the rule-making

21 analysis as being impacted by the rule.

22 (3) The department of health shall gather information from medical

23 and scientific literature, consulting with experts and the public, and

24 reviewing the best practices of other states regarding access to an

25 adequate, safe, consistent, and secure source, including alternative

26 distribution systems, of medical marijuana for qualifying patients.

27 The department shall report its findings to the legislature by July 1,

28 2008.

Passed by the Senate April 20, 2007.

Passed by the House April 18, 2007.

Approved by the Governor May 8, 2007.

Filed in Office of Secretary of State May 10, 2007.

p. 7 ESSB 6032.SL

Contact: Patrick Stiley |  Frank Cikutovich |  Webmaster