Washington cannabis history
Reviewed
Voters approved Initiative 502 on November 6, 2012. NPR reported that the first licensed recreational stores opened on July 8, 2014.
This is a short history, not legal advice. The rules that apply today are on the Washington cannabis laws page. A date is included only when the linked page states it.
At a glance
November 6, 2012A Court of Appeals opinion says voters approved Initiative 502, with 55.7 percent in favor.
November 6, 2012The Secretary of State results page lists 1,724,209 yes votes, 55.7 percent.
July 8, 2014NPR reported that the first licensed recreational retail locations opened that day.
Medical use
- The session law for Initiative 692 is titled the Washington State Medical Use of Marijuana Act. The file that was opened does not add an approval day on the title line used here.
Initiative 502
- The Court of Appeals said Initiative 502 was approved by 55.7 percent of voters on November 6, 2012. The enrolled initiative says the people approved it on November 6, 2012. The opinion says sections of the initiative decriminalized possession of less than one ounce by people 21 and older, and that licensed production and retail sale had to wait for rules and licenses. It is not used here for a separate effective-day entry.
Licensed retail sales
- NPR reported that a person could walk into a licensed store and buy marijuana and that the first retail locations opened that day.
Sources
- decriminalized possession of less than one ounce by people 21 and older
- walk into a licensed store and buy marijuana
- 1,724,209 yes votes, 55.7 percent
- Washington State Medical Use of Marijuana Act
- November 6, 2012
Citations were checked against the linked pages on October 24, 2026. Claims without a statute, election result, regulator page, court opinion, or news report were left out.