Medical pot database hit by possible software delay near launch
The state’s anticipated and in some cases loathed medical marijuana database may not be operational by Friday because of software issues, the state Department of Health announced on Tuesday.
“We are currently experiencing some software challenges with the database, and it may not be ready by July 1,” the DOH said in the statement.
The database is a major aspect of Washington’s medical marijuana law that goes into effect on Friday and aligns the unregulated medical marijuana industry with the recreational side. That law is leading to the closure of many unregulated dispensaries that patients have come to rely on.
The database is necessary to produce recognition cards. Those allow patients several benefits including the avoidance of sales tax, purchasing of up to three times the limit of marijuana that recreational users can buy and arrest protection.
Some medical marijuana users are objecting to the database because of privacy issues. It contains the patient’s qualifying condition among other information.
The database is being constructed by Tacoma’s cloudPWR.
The DOH said it will issue a status update no later than Thursday.
Craig Sailor: 253-597-8541, @crsailor
This story was originally published June 28, 2016 at 5:43 PM with the headline "Medical pot database hit by possible software delay near launch."