Hash Still Illegal Even at State Level

In Washington some are concerned that hash, a potent marijuana extract resin high in THC, may be legal for sale. Although pure hash and hash oil are considered illegal, Washington’s law legalizing marijuana for recreational use does not explicitly prohibit the sale of concentrated marijuana, providing a loophole for hash sales.

The Washington State Liquor Control Board, responsible for generating the laws for sale of marijuana in the state, determined that hash and hash oil may be used in “marijuana infused products,” even if the infusion is a minute amount of glycerin or olive oil. As the law stands now, consumers may buy up to 72 ounces of marijuana-infused oils as a liquid or 16 ounces as a solid. Legislators say they had marijuana juice or tea in mind when establishing the 72-ounce limit. Some experts are concerned that the legal sale of quantities this large will lead to black-market activity in nearby states. New caps on sales of the concentrate, however, can be put in place before Washington’s marijuana stores open early in 2014.

Colorado’s law, by contrast, has made the sale of both hash and hash oil legal. Hash oils have the potential to generate a substantial amount of tax revenues, as they can garner $40 or more per gram, equating to thousands of dollars in tax revenue from purchases of 16 and 72 ounces.