Washington Home Grow Proposal Stalls for Another Year

The Washington State legislature has fallen short this session in its effort to pass a home grow bill that would allow adults aged 21 or older to grow six plants at home.

The Senate version of the bill, SB 5155, did not get a hearing, but it’s companion bill HB 1131 moved forward in the process further than other attempts. Despite a large turn out in support of the bill, it finally stalled in House Appropriations, one Executive Session away from a hearing on the House floor. John Kingsbury, a home grow activist in the state, said they were given various reasons why the bill did not get a final up or down vote, including “they took up too much time” and “they didn’t’ have the votes to pass it.” 

“The chair said he didn’t have enough votes to pass the bill, but by my headcount he did. I hope this is not the reason we didn’t get a hearing, but it makes me wonder. Another reason the chair gave was he thought the Feds would move in, but we know D.C. allows home grows, just look around at the other adult-use states that have it.” — John Kingsbury, in an emailed statement to Ganjapreneur

Washington and Illinois are the only adult-use states that do not allow citizens over 21 to grow at home. Plant counts vary between Oregon allowing four and Michigan permitting 12 plants.  If passed, the Washington proposal would have allowed six plants per adult with a maximum of 15 per household, and home growers could have possessed up to one pound at a time.

Kingsbury said he is surprised and disappointed the bill stalled, but activists will be back next year.

“Every year we learn and make new connections in Olympia. This year the legal industry rallied, showed up and lobbied, which helped a lot,” he said. “2021 is looking good to finally bring home grows to Washington.”