Is THCA Legal in Washington? What State Law Says in 2026

THCA in Washington at a glance

Status	Legal with restrictions
Age limit	21+
Sale	THCA flower and concentrates may be sold only by LCB-licensed cannabis retailers.
Possession	Adults 21 and over may possess cannabis within Washington's personal possession limits.
Product rules	THC concentration combines THC and THCA, and LCB rules define total THC with the acid-to-neutral conversion; cannabis products must meet LCB testing, packaging and labelling rules.
Licensing	Only LCB-licensed producers, processors and retailers may make or sell cannabis products; selling products with detectable THC without a licence is prohibited.
Key law	RCW 69.50.101, 69.50.3251; WAC 314-55-010; SB 5367 (2023)
Last major change	23 July 2023

What Washington law says about THCA

Washington defines THC concentration to include the combined percentage of THC and THCA, and defines cannabis as plant material above 0.3% THC concentration on a dry weight basis. LCB rules likewise define total THC as all THC found in testing, taking account of the conversion from acid to neutral form. High-THCA flower is therefore cannabis under state law, not hemp.¹⁴

SB 5367 (2023) also classed any product meant to be consumed or absorbed inside the body that contains any detectable amount of THC as a cannabis product. Only LCB licensees may manufacture, sell or distribute cannabis products, and the LCB’s May 2025 compliance guide says selling products with detectable THC without a cannabis licence is prohibited and subject to criminal sanctions.¹²³

Washington legalised adult-use cannabis in 2012, so adults 21 and over can buy tested cannabis flower, which is naturally rich in THCA, from licensed retail stores. THCA flower marketed as hemp by smoke shops or online sellers sits outside that system, and hemp retailers may sell only hemp consumables that contain no detectable THC.³⁵

Local rules

Some cities and counties in Washington ban or restrict licensed cannabis retail within their boundaries.

How the federal hemp change affects Washington

Separate from Washington law, the federal definition of hemp is changing. Under the federal hemp redefinition passed in the FY2026 appropriations law, from 11 December 2026 hemp is measured by total THC, which counts THCA as well as delta-9 THC, and finished products are capped at 0.4 mg of total THC per container. High-THCA flower sold as hemp today will not meet that definition, so from that date it is treated as marijuana under federal law, whatever state law says.

Bills to delay or repeal the change are in congressional committees, but none had advanced as of September 2026. Our explainer on the federal hemp THC limit covers the detail, and THCA vs delta-9 THC explains why heat turns THCA into delta-9.

Timeline of recent changes

• May 2025: LCB CIB-87 guide restated that any product with detectable THC needs a cannabis licence.
• 23 July 2023: SB 5367 took effect, making any consumable with detectable THC a cannabis product sold only by licensees.

THCA in neighbouring states

Rules change at the state line. Here is how THCA is treated in the states bordering Washington, as of September 2026:

• Oregon: Legal 21+ at OLCC retailers
• Idaho: Illegal (treated as marijuana)

Carrying products across state lines can break the law of the state you enter, and federal law also applies. Check the destination state’s rules first.

Delta-8 in Washington

Delta-8 is treated differently: in Washington it is Banned (synthetic cannabinoid) as of September 2026. Read our guide to Delta-8 law in Washington, or compare the two compounds in THCA vs Delta-8.

Frequently asked questions

Is THCA flower legal in Washington?

Yes, but only as regulated cannabis. Washington’s THC concentration definition adds THCA to THC, so high-THCA flower is cannabis rather than hemp. Adults 21 and over can buy it from stores licensed by the Liquor and Cannabis Board, but hemp shops and websites may not sell it.

Can smoke shops in Washington sell THCA products?

No. Since SB 5367 took effect in July 2023, any product intended for consumption with a detectable amount of THC is a cannabis product. Only businesses licensed by the Liquor and Cannabis Board may sell cannabis products, and unlicensed sales are subject to criminal sanctions.

Does Washington count THCA when testing hemp?

Yes. RCW 69.50.101 defines THC concentration to include the combined percent of THC and THCA, and the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s rules define total THC with the acid-to-neutral conversion. A plant or product over 0.3% on that basis is cannabis under state law.

Sources

1. Washington State Legislature. RCW 69.50.101, Definitions (“cannabis”, “cannabis products”, “THC concentration”; last amended 2024 c 62). app.leg.wa.gov
2. Washington State Legislature. RCW 69.50.3251 (unlicensed cannabis manufacture and sale; synthetic cannabinoids prohibited; 2023 c 365 s 5). app.leg.wa.gov
3. Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board. CIB-87: Products Containing THC Guide (May 2025). lcb.wa.gov
4. Washington State Legislature. WAC 314-55-010, Definitions (“total THC”; WSR 24-21-051, effective 7 January 2025). app.leg.wa.gov
5. Washington State Legislature. RCW 15.140.020, Definitions (“hemp”, “hemp consumable”). app.leg.wa.gov

Editorial note: This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and reflects our reading of Washington and federal law as of 24 September 2026. Hemp and cannabis laws change quickly and are enforced differently by different agencies and localities. If you sell, ship or carry these products, check the current rules with the relevant state agency or a licensed attorney.

See the full state-by-state THCA table →