Access Points

The following contains minimum standards for Access Points for Coalition members. It is our hope that these standards will serve the medical cannabis community.

CCSE Access Point Standards (PDF)

In an effort to self-regulate the cannabis industry, we will hold ourselves to the following minimum standards:

  1. Pay all governmental liabilities that are incurred as a result of doing business in Washington State. These include:
    1. Business & Occupation taxes.
    2. Employment taxes.
    3. Federal income tax.
    4. Retail tax should be paid unless this is contrary to the advice of the access point’s legal counsel.
  2. Carry standard business liability insurance.
  3. Require all staff members that handle medicine to obtain Food Handler’s Permits.
  4. Adhere to strict initial verification standards before patient obtains medicine including:
    1. Checking valid Government issued ID.
    2. Checking tamper proof recommendation.
    3. Verifying patient recommendation via
      1. online check for active doctors license by using
        1. www.doh.wa.gov.
      2. phone or online verification with doctors’ office.
  5. Adhere to Care Providers policies including:
    1. Bringing patient in to facility for the first visit.
    2. Requiring Care Provider Documentation, Medical power of attorney preferred
    3. Access points are not required to accommodate care providers.
  6. Adhere to crime prevention standards including:
    1. Positively engaging with communities and business neighbors.
    2. Maintaining a comprehensive security system including:
      1. camera system(s).
      2. alarm system(s).
      3. panic button(s).
    3. Possessing no firearms on premises.
    4. Requiring a minimum of one locked door between public and medicine.
  7. Adhere to policies for patients under age 18 including:
    1. Requiring one verified legal guardian who is designated as care provider to be present at all times.
    2. Requiring care providers to make transactions and carry out medicine.
    3. Access points are not required to accommodate patients under 18.
  8. Secure any patient files by keeping hard copies under lock and key for staff access only and maintaining secure encryption protocols for electronic files.
  9. Maintain tasteful and professional advertising, which does not target minors.
  10. Create and maintain policies for quality control of medicine including:
    1. Visual inspection.
    2. Requiring producer to use non-systemic pesticides during flower cycle.
    3. Requiring producer to control pathogens including:
      1. Mites / Thrips / Other Pests
      2. Molds / Mildew
      3. Animal hair / Other foreign adulterants
  11. Require that all medicine is produced in Washington State.
  12. Adhere to Chapter 70.160 RCW: Smoking in public places (formerly Washington clean indoor air act).
  13. Provide physical accessibility to patients by maintaining ADA compliance.