Marijuana Excise Tax.
Retail sales of marijuana concentrates, usable marijuana, and marijuana-infused products are subject to an excise tax of 37 percent.  The tax is in addition to state and local sales and use taxes.  Revenues from this tax are deposited into the Dedicated Marijuana Account.
 
Qualifying Medical Marijuana Patients.
A Washington State resident qualifies for medical marijuana use if they are a patient of a health care professional, have been diagnosed with a terminal or debilitating medical condition, have been advised of the benefits and risks of marijuana use, and have been advised they may benefit from the use of medical marijuana by their health care professional.
 
The qualifying patient must either have an authorization form from their health care professional, or must be entered into the medical marijuana authorization database and receive a recognition card.
 
All medical marijuana patients must pay the marijuana excise tax equal to 37 percent.  Qualifying patients holding a recognition card are granted a sales tax exemption on the following products, when sold by a marijuana retailer who has a medical marijuana endorsement:

• marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana, or marijuana-infused products, identified by the Department of Health to be beneficial for medical use; and
• products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) with a THC concentration of 0.3 percent or less.

 
Medical Marijuana Endorsement.
Marijuana retailers may apply to the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) for an endorsement to sell marijuana for medical use to qualifying patients and designated providers.
 
To qualify for this endorsement, the retailer must:

• carry marijuana concentrates and infused products that have been identified as beneficial for medical use;
• enter qualifying patients and designated providers in a medical marijuana database;
• issue medical marijuana patient recognition cards;
• keep records of qualifying patients and designated providers’ recognition cards;
• ensure all employees are trained on medical marijuana, including the ability to identify authorizations and recognition cards; and
• enter information about medical sales in the traceability system.

 
Tax Preference Performance Statement.
State law provides for a range of tax preferences that confer reduced tax liability upon a designated class of taxpayer.  Tax preferences include tax exclusions, deductions, exemptions, preferential tax rates, deferrals, and credits.  Currently, Washington has over 650 tax preferences, including a variety of sales and use tax exemptions.  Legislation that establishes or expands a tax preference must include a Tax Preference Performance Statement that identifies the public policy objective of the preference, as well as specific metrics that the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) can use to evaluate the effectiveness of the preference.  All new tax preferences automatically expire after 10 years unless an alternative expiration date is provided.

Sales of compliant medical marijuana products by a retailer with a medical marijuana endorsement to qualifying patients or designated providers are exempt from the 37 percent marijuana excise tax until January 1, 2025.
 
Each seller making exempt sales must maintain information establishing eligibility for the exemption in the form and manner required by the LCB.  The LCB must provide a separate tax reporting line on the excise tax form for exemption amounts claimed.
 
The JLARC must review the exemption to identify changes in consumer behavior and to determine whether the exemption results in an unanticipated decrease in state revenue.  The JLARC must report its findings to the legislature by December 1, 2024.