Washington · ID at the register
A birth date before every sale
One sale to someone under 21 can mean a suspension or a fine for your store. It rarely happens on a quiet morning.
What the rules say
- WAC 314-55-079(1): A retailer may sell only to people 21 and older. The exceptions are in RCW 69.50.357 and WAC 314-55-080.
- RCW 69.50.357(2): A qualifying patient aged 18 to 20 with a recognition card may buy at a medically endorsed store.
- WAC 314-55-521: Selling to someone under 21 is a Category II violation. The penalties are below.
| When | Penalty |
|---|---|
| First violation | 5-day suspension or $1,250 monetary option |
| Second in a two-year window | 10-day suspension or $7,500 monetary option |
| Third in a two-year window | 30-day suspension |
| Fourth in a two-year window | License cancellation |
Read at app.leg.wa.gov on November 6, 2026. This page is not legal advice. The Liquor and Cannabis Board decides what a violation is.
Where ID checks slip
New staff
Someone on the register this week may not have been here last month.
The rush
A long line pushes people to glance at a card instead of reading it.
Worn, expired and fake cards
A card can look right at a glance and still be wrong.
What the register checks
These checks run on the CannAgent register. They do not run beside another POS.
- Every sale asks for the customer's date of birth. The server refuses a sale that has none.
- A date under 21 stops the sale and locks the screen. No override clears it.
- A medically endorsed store can allow a qualifying patient, 18 to 20, with a recognition card. That setting is off until the store turns it on.
- If the date typed doesn't match the customer's account, the sale stops.
- A vertical ID needs a second employee to read the same birth date and confirm with their PIN.
- If the ID saved on a customer's account has expired, the sale needs a manager's PIN and a reason.
- Every blocked attempt is logged. Owners can review them on one page.
What it does not do
- It does not spot a fake ID. Your staff still hold the card and read it.
- Scanning the license barcode is optional. It needs a scanner or an iPad camera and is off until set up.
See it on a test sale
We walk through a sale with an under-21 date and a vertical ID, on the real register.