Washington

Washington retail self-check

36 questions about your store, with the rule beside each one. A No shows a fix you can hand to someone.

No sign-in and no file to upload.

This is a self-check, not legal advice. It gives no score and does not say whether your store meets the rules. This list does not cover every rule. Rules change. Open the rule link before you rely on a line. Questions about your store go to the LCB or your own lawyer. Rules read at app.leg.wa.gov on November 8, 2026.

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ID and age

  1. Does everyone who checks ID know the list of IDs the rule accepts?

    Why it matters: The rule names the documents that prove age for a cannabis sale. Anything else does not.

    • WAC 314-55-150(1)
      “Following are the forms of identification that are acceptable to verify a person's age for the purpose of purchasing cannabis”
  2. Does staff refuse every expired ID, even when the birth date shows 21 or older?

    Why it matters: An expired ID does not prove age under the rule.

    • WAC 314-55-150(2)
      “The identification document is not acceptable to verify age if expired.”
  3. Is everyone under 21 kept out of the store, staff included?

    Why it matters: Retailers may not employ anyone under 21 or let them enter or stay. Medical-endorsed stores have a narrow patient exception.

    • RCW 69.50.357(2)
      “Licensed cannabis retailers may not employ persons under twenty-one years of age or allow persons under twenty-one years of age to enter or remain on the premises of a retail outlet.”
    • RCW 69.50.357(6)
      “The board must fine a licensee one thousand dollars for each violation of any subsection of this section.”
  4. Has every employee been trained on the rules and on spotting under-21 customers, with a record on file?

    Why it matters: The statute requires the training. The records rule keeps training records on the premises for five years.

    • RCW 69.50.357(3)(a)
      “Licensed cannabis retailers must ensure that all employees are trained on the rules adopted to implement this chapter, identification of persons under the age of twenty-one”
    • WAC 314-55-087(1)(e)
      “All employee records to include, but not limited to, training, payroll, and date of hire;”

Badges

  1. Does every owner and employee on site wear a badge with trade name, legal name and photo?

    Why it matters: The badge lets an officer match each person to their state ID. They must carry that ID too.

    • WAC 314-55-083(1)
      “The identification badge must list the licensee's trade name and include the person's full and legal name and photograph.”

Required signs

  1. Is the board's under-21 notice posted at every entrance?

    Why it matters: The rule requires the board's notice at each entry. Medical-endorsed stores post the version with the patient wording.

    • WAC 314-55-086(1)
      “must conspicuously post a notice provided by the board about persons under 21 years of age at each entry to all licensed premises.”
    • WAC 314-55-086(2)
      “All licensed retailers with a medical cannabis endorsement must conspicuously post a notice provided by the board regarding persons under 21 years of age at each entry”
  2. Is the pregnancy and breastfeeding sign at every register, and where staff can easily see it?

    Why it matters: The rule names both places.

    • WAC 314-55-086(3)
      “All licensed cannabis retailers must conspicuously post a sign provided by the board regarding the use of cannabis during pregnancy and breastfeeding as follows:”
  3. Is the no-opening, no-use-in-public notice posted in plain view at the main entrance?

    Why it matters: The rule places this notice at the main entrance.

    • WAC 314-55-086(4)
      “The notice must be posted in plain view at the main entrance of the cannabis retail establishment.”
  4. Is the Department of Health high-THC notice posted at every point of sale?

    Why it matters: The statute requires it at the point of sale. It must be the Department of Health notice, or substantially the same.

    • RCW 69.50.357(5)(a)
      “licensed cannabis retailers shall post a conspicuous notice at the point of sale in retail outlets”
  5. Is your current license, with its endorsements, posted where an officer can see it?

    Why it matters: The rule requires the current license posted and available for inspection.

    • WAC 314-55-086(5)
      “must conspicuously post on the premises and make available their current and valid master license or licenses with appropriate endorsements for inspection by board enforcement officers.”
  6. Is the board's firearms-prohibited sign posted at the entrance?

    Why it matters: The rule requires the board's sign at the entrance of every licensed location.

    • WAC 314-55-086(6)
      “Firearms prohibited signs provided by the board must be posted at the entrance of each producer, processor, and retailer licensed location.”

Security and records

  1. Is there a working alarm on every outside door and every outside window?

    Why it matters: The rule sets this as the minimum alarm system.

    • WAC 314-55-083(2)
      “each licensed premises must have a security alarm system on all perimeter entry points and perimeter windows.”
  2. Do cameras cover every register and record around the clock at 10 frames per second or more?

    Why it matters: The rule names point-of-sale areas as controlled areas and sets continuous recording.

  3. Can you play back recordings from 45 days ago, on a recorder locked away from staff?

    Why it matters: The rule sets 45 days on the recording device and a secured device.

    • WAC 314-55-083(3)
      “All surveillance recordings must be kept for a minimum of 45 days on the licensee's recording device.”
    • WAC 314-55-083(3)
      “The surveillance system storage device must be secured on the licensed premises in a lockbox, cabinet, closet, or secured in another manner to protect from employee tampering or criminal theft.”
  4. Do non-customer visitors wear a visitor badge and go in a log kept three years?

    Why it matters: The rule requires the badge and a log of name, badge number, times in and out, and purpose.

    • WAC 314-55-083(1)(a)
      “All nonemployee visitors to the licensed premises, other than retail store customers, shall be required to hold and properly display an identification badge issued by the licensee”
    • WAC 314-55-083(1)(b)
      “A log must be kept and maintained showing the full name of each visitor entering the licensed premises, badge number issued, the time of arrival, time of departure, and the purpose of the visit.”
    • WAC 314-55-083(1)(c)
      “All log records must be maintained on the licensed premises for a period of three years”
  5. Are five years of business records kept at the store, including sale and inventory records?

    Why it matters: The rule lists the records and says they stay on the premises for five years.

    • WAC 314-55-087(1)
      “The following records must be kept and maintained on the licensed premises for a five-year period”
    • WAC 314-55-087(1)(r)
      “Detailed sale records including, but not limited to, date of sale, sale price, item sold, and taxes assessed;”
  6. Are transport records kept at the store for at least three years?

    Why it matters: The rule sets three years at the licensee's location.

    • WAC 314-55-085(4)
      “Records of all transportation must be kept for a minimum of three years at the licensee's location and are subject to inspection.”

Store conduct

  1. Does no one, staff included, open or use cannabis anywhere on the premises?

    Why it matters: The statute bars opening or using product on the premises, except disposal the board allows. It names employees.

    • RCW 69.50.357(4)
      “no licensed cannabis retailer or employee of a retail outlet may open or consume, or allow to be opened or consumed, any cannabis concentrates, useable cannabis, or cannabis-infused product on the outlet premises.”
    • RCW 69.50.357(6)
      “The board must fine a licensee one thousand dollars for each violation of any subsection of this section.”

Sales

  1. Is every sale held to the per-transaction limits, with none helping a person exceed the possession amount?

    Why it matters: The rule caps one transaction by product type. Patients in the medical database have higher limits at endorsed stores.

    • WAC 314-55-095(1)(d)(i)
      “A single transaction is limited to:”
    • WAC 314-55-095(1)(d)(ii)
      “A licensee or employee of a licensee is prohibited from conducting a transaction that facilitates an individual in obtaining more than the personal possession amount.”
    • WAC 314-55-095(2)(d)
      “A single transaction by a retail store with a medical cannabis endorsement to a qualifying patient or designated provider who is entered into the medical cannabis database is limited to”
  2. Are all sales rung up between 8 a.m. and midnight?

    Why it matters: The rule sets the hours a retailer may sell.

  3. Is all cannabis kept behind a counter or barrier, out of customers' reach?

    Why it matters: The rule says customers may not have direct access to product.

    • WAC 314-55-079(8)
      “All cannabis products must be stored behind a counter or other barrier to ensure a customer does not have direct access to the product.”
  4. Are all sales made in the store, with no internet sales and no delivery to customers?

    Why it matters: The rule prohibits both.

    • WAC 314-55-079(5)
      “Internet sales and delivery of product to customers is prohibited.”
  5. Is stock on hand at or under four months of your average inventory?

    Why it matters: The rule sets four months of average inventory as the most a retailer may hold.

    • WAC 314-55-079(10)
      “Cannabis retailer licensees are allowed to have a maximum of four months of their average inventory on their licensed premises at any given time.”

CCRS and LCB reports

  1. After each delivery, is the amount you actually received reported in CCRS?

    Why it matters: The rule puts the receiving report on the store that took the shipment.

    • WAC 314-55-085(2)
      “shall report the amount and/or weight of cannabis and/or cannabis products received in the traceability system.”
  2. Is every theft of cannabis recorded in CCRS and in your own records?

    Why it matters: The rule lists theft among what must be kept up to date in CCRS. Your own theft records stay on file five years.

    • WAC 314-55-083(4)(e)
      “Any theft of useable cannabis, cannabis seedlings, clones, plants, trim or other plant material, extract, infused product, seed, plant tissue or other item containing cannabis;”
    • WAC 314-55-087(1)(p)
      “Records of any theft of cannabis seedlings, clones, plants, trim or other plant material, extract, cannabis-infused product, or other item containing cannabis;”
  3. Is cannabis or cannabis waste reported in CCRS when it is set for destruction?

    Why it matters: The rule words this ahead of time: CCRS shows when a lot is to be destroyed.

    • WAC 314-55-083(4)(c)
      “When a lot or batch of cannabis, cannabis extract, cannabis concentrates, cannabis-infused product, or cannabis waste is to be destroyed;”
  4. Is the monthly excise report filed with the LCB by the 20th, even with no sales?

    Why it matters: The rule says every month, by the 20th for the month before. Each license files separately.

Returns

  1. Do you return product to a processor only in the cases the rule allows?

    Why it matters: The rule allows three cases. Wrong product found and corrected within 8 days. Closing the store, with LCB approval first. Return for destruction, with no refund owed.

    • WAC 314-55-077(15)
      “Cannabis may not be returned by any retail licensee to any processor except as provided in this section.”
    • WAC 314-55-077(15)(c)
      “These incorrect orders must be discovered and corrected within eight days of the date the delivery was made”
  2. When a customer returns an open product, is it in its original package with a readable lot number?

    Why it matters: The rule allows customer returns of open product on that condition.

    • WAC 314-55-079(12)
      “Products must be returned in their original packaging with the lot, batch, or inventory ID number fully legible.”

Pricing and samples

  1. Is every price, rung up or advertised, at or above the current acquisition cost?

    Why it matters: The statute bars advertising, offering or selling below acquisition cost. Sales of product designated for medical use to qualifying patients are excepted.

    • RCW 69.50.369(11)(d)
      “Advertise, offer for sale, or sell cannabis at less than acquisition cost.”
    • WAC 314-55-079(7)
      “Cannabis retailers may not sell cannabis products below the current acquisition cost.”
  2. Does every coupon leave the price at or above your cost for that item?

    Why it matters: The rule names coupons on their own, so a coupon stacked on a sale price counts too.

    • WAC 314-55-155(5)(g)
      “Coupons may not discount the price of a product below the retailer's acquisition cost of the item;”
  3. Is cannabis never handed to customers as a free sample?

    Why it matters: The rule bars free samples to customers. Medical-endorsed stores may give products free only to patients with a recognition card.

    • WAC 314-55-096(2)
      “Retailers may not provide free samples to customers.”
    • WAC 314-55-155(6)
      “Cannabis retail licensees holding a medical cannabis endorsement may donate or provide free of charge products only to qualifying patients or designated providers who hold a valid recognition card.”
  4. Do trade samples go only to current paid employees, 30 units or fewer each per quarter?

    Why it matters: The rule limits who may receive trade samples and caps each employee per quarter.

    • WAC 314-55-096(1)(i)
      “Trade samples may only be given to and used by licensees or current paid employees of the licensee as detailed in a licensee's written business policy.”
    • WAC 314-55-096(1)(j)(vi)
      “Must not provide more than 30 trade sample units to any one employee within a calendar quarter.”

Advertising

  1. Does every ad, in every medium, say only people 21 or older may buy (trade name signs aside)?

    Why it matters: The rule requires that text on all advertising, whatever the medium.

    • WAC 314-55-155(2)(c)
      “must contain text that is clearly visible during business hours stating that cannabis products may be purchased or possessed only by persons 21 years of age or older.”
  2. Does every ad other than an outdoor sign carry all four required warnings, at the required size?

    Why it matters: The rule sets the four warnings and a minimum type size of 10 percent of the largest type.

    • WAC 314-55-155(7)
      “all advertising must contain the following warnings that must be in type size at least 10 percent of the largest type used in the advertisement:”
  3. Are your ads, menu notes and posts free of any curative or therapeutic claim?

    Why it matters: The rule bars advertising that represents cannabis as curative or therapeutic.

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