What Does “DOH-Compliant” Really Mean for Medical Cannabis Buyers?
By Jeff Eckenrode
Image credit : Hush Naidoo Jade Photography
Quick Answer: “DOH-compliant” cannabis meets Washington Department of Health’s strict medical-grade standards, including extra testing for pesticides, heavy metals, and mycotoxins. For medical patients, these products mean safer, more consistent medicine—plus benefits like tax savings, higher purchase limits, and access through a medical cannabis card.
If you’ve ever shopped at a medical cannabis dispensary, you may have noticed certain products labeled as “DOH-compliant.”
The phrase might sound technical, but for patients, it’s an important marker of safety and legitimacy.
So what does it actually mean and why should you care?
Image credit: Logan Gutierrez
DOH = Department of Health
In Washington state, “DOH-compliant” simply means that a cannabis product meets the standards set by the state’s Department of Health.
Although standards vary by state, they’re designed to ensure medical cannabis is safe, accurately labeled, and consistent in quality.
Think of it like a stamp of approval: if it’s DOH-compliant, it has passed strict testing and regulation.
Image credit: Washington State Department of Health
What Does Compliance Cover?
DOH compliance includes:
Lab Testing: Products must be tested for potency, pesticides, mold, heavy metals, and other contaminants.
Label Accuracy: THC, CBD, and other cannabinoid levels must match what’s printed on the label.
Packaging & Dosing: Products must be packaged in child-resistant containers with clear dosing information.
Traceability: Cannabis is tracked from seed to sale to prevent diversion into the unregulated market.
Image credit: Cova Software
Why It Matters for Patients
For medical buyers, DOH compliance offers peace of mind. It means the product you’re using has been screened for harmful substances, accurately dosed, and produced under regulations similar to those used in other areas of healthcare.
Additionally medical patients pay no excise (37%) or sales (about 10%) taxes on DOH compliant products.
Medical patients can buy up to three times more product in one transaction than a recreational guest.
In short: DOH-compliant products help ensure you’re getting safe, effective medicine at the lowest possible price.
Image credit: Stephen Cobb
The Difference from Recreational Products
In some states, including Washington, the rules for medical cannabis are stricter than for recreational products.
That means DOH compliant products are more rigorously tested, come in different potencies and even qualify for tax exemptions.
DOH compliance sets medical-grade cannabis apart from the general adult-use market.
Image credit: Hashtag Cannabis
Where can I find DOH Compliant Cannabis?
Whether you’re shopping online or in Redmond, we’re here to help you find what you need, when you need it. That includes DOH-compliant products!
We offer a wide variety of DOH compliant flower, vapes, edibles and more. Click on our online menu link below to see our current availability.
Want to learn more?
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Whether you’re shopping in Redmond or online, we’re here to help you find what you need, when you need it.