The Washington Cannabis Cooperative Registration Application (LIQ-1275) is the paper form that qualifying medical cannabis patients and their designated providers file with the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) to legally grow and process medical cannabis together at one member’s home. Two to four members share one grow site, pool the plant limits printed on their recognition cards, and supply that cannabis only to each other.
This is not a commercial license. You cannot sell what you grow, you pay no application fee, and the whole thing rides on a single rule: every member must hold a valid medical recognition card. The state reports that fewer than a few hundred cooperatives have ever registered statewide, which means most filers have no one nearby to copy from and every small mistake on the form can stall or sink the registration. Get one box wrong, and the WSLCB can deny you or revoke you later.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 What the cooperative form is, who must file it, and the laws behind it
- 🗂️ Every document and ID number to gather before you open the form
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of each field, box, and signature line
- 👥 Three real filled-out examples you can model your own answers on
- ⚠️ The mistakes that get cooperatives denied and how to dodge each one
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The Application to Register a Cooperative is the WSLCB’s authorization document for a medical cannabis cooperative. A cooperative lets qualifying patients and designated providers share the work and cost of growing and processing cannabis for their own medical use, as spelled out in RCW 69.51A.250. This is the law that created cooperatives in the first place, and it limits them to no more than four members who all grow at one location.
The form goes to one agency only: the WSLCB Marijuana Unit in Olympia. The rules that govern how you fill it out and what the cooperative must do afterward sit in WAC 314-55-410 through 314-55-430. The statute requires the registration, the rules set the buffers and recordkeeping, and the WSLCB enforces both through inspections.
You must file this form if you and at least one other person each hold a valid recognition card and want to grow at a shared site. You cannot file it if you only have a regular medical authorization without a recognition card, because the Department of Health recognition card is the gate that proves you are a qualifying patient. If you want to sell cannabis to the public, this is the wrong form entirely; you would need a commercial license, which the WSLCB is mostly not issuing outside its Social Equity Program.
A common misconception is that a cooperative is a business you can profit from. It is not. Marcus and his neighbor Dana think they can sell extra flower to friends to cover power bills, but the form’s own certification forbids giving or selling product to anyone outside the cooperative, and doing so is grounds for revocation.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything below before you open the form. The WSLCB asks for proof later, and missing items are the top reason a cooperative stalls.
- Valid recognition card for every member. Each member needs a current DOH recognition card; without one for each person, the member does not qualify and the whole filing can be rejected.
- Plant counts from each card. The card lists how many plants each person may grow, and you add these to set the cooperative’s total; if you guess, you risk an over-limit violation.
- Date of birth for every member. All members must be at least 21, and a wrong birthdate can flag a member as ineligible.
- Mailing address for every member. The form lists each member’s mailing address separately from the grow location, and a missing one leaves a blank box that delays review.
- The exact grow address and tax parcel number. The site must be one member’s domicile, and only one cooperative is allowed per tax parcel; the parcel number lets the WSLCB confirm no other cooperative sits there.
- Proof the site is a member’s domicile. A lease, deed, or utility bill ties the address to a member; without it, the location fails the domicile rule.
- Landlord written permission, if you rent. A signed, often notarized statement from the property owner shows the grow is allowed, and renters who skip this almost always get held up.
- Distance check to the nearest cannabis retailer. The site cannot sit within one mile of a licensed retailer, so confirm this on the WSLCB retailer list before you commit.
- Distance check to schools, parks, and other sensitive sites. The grow cannot be within 1,000 feet of listed places like schools or playgrounds, and a buffer violation is an automatic denial.
- A working email address for the primary contact. The WSLCB runs this whole process by email, so a typo here can cut off all contact.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
You get the official form straight from the WSLCB. Download the Cooperatives Registration Application from the LCB cannabis cooperative page, where it sits as a Word document you can fill out on a computer or print and complete by hand. Always pull the current copy from the agency site rather than a third-party PDF, since the rule references and email address can change.
The form is a Microsoft Word (.doc) file with checkboxes built in, so opening it in Word or Google Docs lets you type your answers and click the Yes/No boxes directly. If you prefer paper, print it, write in dark ink, and use block capital letters so the WSLCB can read every entry.
Unlike commercial cannabis licenses, this cooperative form does not go through the WSLCB online Portal and does not start with a Business Licensing Service application. Those channels are for licensees who pay fees and sell product. The cooperative form is a simple email submission, which is why there is no fee and no Portal account to create.
A frequent misconception is that you mail this form like an old license application. Janet prints the form and drops it in the mail, then waits weeks with no reply. The WSLCB asks you to scan and email it instead, and mailing a paper copy only slows you down.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Cooperative Registration Application Line by Line
The form has four parts: the location and contact block at the top, the member table, the certification list of requirements, and the signature block. Fill them in the order they appear. Below, each field gets its own breakdown so nothing slips past you.
Field 1: Location Address
This field asks for the physical street address where the cooperative will actually grow and process cannabis. Write the full street number, street name, unit, city, state, and ZIP in normal address format, such as 1420 Maple Street, Spokane, WA 99205. Use the real grow site, not a P.O. Box, because the WSLCB visits this exact spot during inspections.
The nuance: this address must be the domicile of one of your members, meaning a member actually lives there. If your members all live apart, you must pick one member’s home and that member becomes the host. A common mistake is listing a vacant lot, a storage unit, or a warehouse, which fails the domicile rule and triggers a denial. People wrongly believe any private property works for a cooperative; the law ties the grow to where a member lives, not to spare land you happen to own.
Field 2: Mailing Address
This field asks where the WSLCB should send any mailed notices for the cooperative as a whole. Write the address where the primary contact reliably receives mail, which can be a P.O. Box such as PO Box 88, Spokane, WA 99210. If mail comes to the same place as the grow, you may repeat the location address here.
The nuance: the mailing address can differ from the grow site, and that is fine, but the grow site itself can never be a P.O. Box. A common mistake is leaving this blank because the location address is already filled in, which leaves the agency unsure where to send paperwork. Many filers think the WSLCB only uses email, but the mailing address remains the official backup for formal notices, so do not skip it.
Field 3: Primary Contact for Cooperative
This field asks for the name of the one member who will speak for the group and serve as the on-site contact for the WSLCB. Write the person’s full legal name as it appears on their recognition card, such as Maria Lopez. This person fields every question and meets inspectors at the door.
The nuance: the primary contact is usually the member whose home hosts the grow, since they are the one on site. A common mistake is naming someone who lives elsewhere, which makes on-site contact impossible and frustrates inspectors. People assume the primary contact has more legal rights than other members; they do not, but they do carry the duty of being reachable, so pick someone dependable.
Field 4: Email Address
This field asks for the email address the WSLCB will use for nearly all communication about your registration. Type it carefully in standard format, such as maria.lopez@email.com, and double-check every character. This is the channel through which the agency requests your recognition cards and additional documents.
The nuance: use an address the primary contact checks often, since replies may carry deadlines. A common mistake is a single typo, like maria.lopze@email.com, which sends every WSLCB message into the void and leaves you wondering why no one answers. Many filers think a missed email is harmless, but ignored requests can be read as an abandoned application, so guard this box closely.
Field 5: Member Table — Name of Participants and/or Designated Providers
This column asks for the full legal name of every person in the cooperative, one per row. Write each name exactly as it reads on that person’s recognition card, such as Maria Lopez and David Chen. The table holds up to four rows because the law caps a cooperative at four members.
The nuance: a name must match the recognition card and the signature later in the form, or the WSLCB cannot match the person to their plant authorization. A common mistake is using a nickname like Dave in the table but signing David, which creates a mismatch and slows verification. People believe initials or shortened names are fine; the agency cross-checks against DOH records, so always use the full legal name.
Field 6: Member Table — Date of Birth
This column asks for each member’s birthdate to confirm everyone is at least 21. Enter it in clear month-day-year form, such as 03/14/1985. Every row that holds a member name needs a matching birthdate.
The nuance: even a member who is clearly an adult must list a date, because the form certifies the 21-and-over rule for the whole group. A common mistake is leaving a birthdate blank for a member who “obviously” qualifies, which leaves the certification incomplete. Some filers think only the youngest member’s age matters; the rule applies to every participant, so fill in each row.
Field 7: Member Table — Mailing Address
This column asks for each member’s own mailing address, listed beside their name. Write the full address for each person, such as 55 Pine Ave, Spokane, WA 99201. This is separate from the single cooperative mailing address near the top of the form.
The nuance: members often live at different addresses, and that is expected, since only one member needs to host the grow. A common mistake is copying the grow address into every row when members actually live apart, which misstates where each person resides. People assume all members must live together; they do not, but only the host member’s home can be the grow site.
Field 8: Member Table — Designated Provider? (Yes/No Checkbox)
This column asks whether each listed person is a designated provider rather than a patient, with a Yes or No checkbox per row. Click or mark Yes for anyone serving as a designated provider, and No for a qualifying patient. A designated provider is someone authorized to help a specific patient.
The nuance: a single person can fill a patient slot or a provider slot, but a designated provider must be tied to a qualifying patient under the law. A common mistake is checking neither box, which leaves the member’s role unclear and stalls the review. Many filers think provider and patient are the same; they have different roles and different recognition card entries, so mark the correct box for each member.
Field 9: Cooperative Requirements Certification
This section is a list of legal promises you certify under penalty of perjury, confirming the cooperative will meet every rule in WAC 314-55-410 through 430 and RCW 69.51A.250. Read each bullet before you sign, because signing means you swear all of it is true. The list covers age, recognition cards, buffers, plant limits, the domicile rule, fencing, recordkeeping, extraction methods, the no-sale rule, inspections, and member-change notice.
The nuance: this is not boilerplate you can skim. Under penalty of perjury means a false certification is a crime, not just a denied form. A common mistake is signing while quietly planning to break one rule, such as selling product, which is both perjury and grounds for revocation. People treat this list as fine print; it is the heart of the registration, so treat every bullet as a binding rule you must follow daily.
Field 10: Signature
This field asks each member to sign, proving they personally agree to the certification. Sign your normal legal signature on your row, matching the printed name beneath it. Every participant and designated provider on page one must sign, not just the primary contact.
The nuance: a cooperative with four members needs four signatures, and a single missing signature voids the certification for that person. A common mistake is having only the primary contact sign, which leaves the other members uncertified and the form incomplete. Some filers think one signature speaks for the group; the form requires each member’s own signature, so collect them all before you scan.
Field 11: Date
This field asks for the date each member signs, written beside their signature. Use month-day-year form, such as 05/29/2026, and have each person date their own line. The date marks when each member made their sworn promise.
The nuance: members may sign on different days if you are gathering signatures over time, and each can use the day they actually signed. A common mistake is leaving the date blank or letting one person date for everyone, which weakens the certification. People think the date is a formality; it sets the official start of each member’s commitment, so never leave it empty.
Field 12: Print Name
This field asks each signer to print their name clearly under their signature so the WSLCB can read it. Print the same full legal name used in the member table, such as MARIA LOPEZ. This pairs a readable name with each handwritten signature.
The nuance: printed names let the agency match a hard-to-read signature to the right member and recognition card. A common mistake is printing a different version of the name than the one in the member table, which creates a mismatch. Many filers skip the print line because they already signed; the printed name is what makes the signature usable, so fill in every print line.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three common cooperatives and what each enters on the key parts of the form. Use them as a model, not as a copy.
Scenario 1: A two-member home cooperative (Maria and David, indoor grow at Maria’s house).
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Location Address | 1420 Maple Street, Spokane, WA 99205 (Maria’s home) |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 88, Spokane, WA 99210 |
| Primary Contact | Maria Lopez |
| Email Address | maria.lopez@email.com |
| Member 1 Name / DOB / Provider? | Maria Lopez / 03/14/1985 / No |
| Member 2 Name / DOB / Provider? | David Chen / 07/22/1979 / No |
| Member Mailing Addresses | 1420 Maple St and 55 Pine Ave, Spokane |
| Certification | Reads all bullets, both confirm valid recognition cards |
| Signatures / Print / Date | Both sign, print names, date 05/29/2026 |
Scenario 2: A four-member outdoor cooperative (Aisha hosts, needs the eight-foot fence).
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Location Address | 908 Rural Route 4, Yakima, WA 98901 (Aisha’s domicile) |
| Mailing Address | Same as location address |
| Primary Contact | Aisha Bello |
| Email Address | aisha.bello@email.com |
| Members 1–4 Names | Aisha Bello, Tom Reed, Lena Park, Carl Diaz |
| All DOBs | Each at least 21, listed MM/DD/YYYY |
| Provider? Boxes | All marked No (all are patients) |
| Certification | Confirms outdoor grow has 8-foot sight-obscuring fence |
| Signatures / Print / Date | All four sign, print, and date their own lines |
Scenario 3: A designated provider registers for a homebound patient on rented land (Carlos as provider).
| Form Section | What Carlos Enters |
|---|---|
| Location Address | 312 Birch Lane Apt B, Tacoma, WA 98402 (patient’s domicile) |
| Mailing Address | Carlos Ruiz, 312 Birch Lane Apt B, Tacoma, WA 98402 |
| Primary Contact | Carlos Ruiz |
| Email Address | carlos.ruiz@email.com |
| Member 1 Name / DOB / Provider? | Carlos Ruiz / 11/02/1990 / Yes (provider) |
| Member 2 Name / DOB / Provider? | Nora Smith / 01/18/1968 / No (patient) |
| Landlord Permission | Attaches signed owner permission for the rental |
| Certification | Confirms site is the patient’s domicile, no sales |
| Signatures / Print / Date | Carlos and Nora both sign, print, and date |
How to File the Completed Form
The cooperative form uses one main channel: email. After every member signs and dates, scan the full form (and any attachments like recognition cards or landlord permission) into a single clear PDF and email it to cannabiscooperatives@lcb.wa.gov, the address listed on the WSLCB cooperative page. There is no application fee and no payment method to set up, which makes email the simplest path.
If you cannot scan, you may mail a paper copy to the WSLCB Marijuana Unit, PO Box 43098, 3000 Pacific Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98504, the address printed on the form, but mailing is slower and the agency prefers email. You can also call the Licensing Division at (360) 664-1600 with questions before you send. There is no in-person counter filing and no fax channel built for this form, so do not expect those options.
Keep your own copy of everything you send as proof of filing. Save the scanned PDF, note the date and time you emailed it, and keep the WSLCB’s reply email confirming receipt. Processing time varies, and the WSLCB will email the primary contact to request additional documents, since the form itself states additional documentation will be requested at a later date.
A common misconception is that hitting send means you are registered. Tom emails the form and starts planting the next day. Registration is not final until the WSLCB reviews your documents and confirms your authorization, so wait for written approval before you grow.
What Happens After You File
Once your email arrives, the WSLCB reviews your form and asks the primary contact by email for supporting documents, most often copies of each member’s recognition card and proof the location is a member’s domicile. The agency confirms that your site clears the one-mile retailer buffer and the 1,000-foot sensitive-use buffer, and that no other cooperative sits on the same tax parcel. This back-and-forth happens through the email address in Field 4, which is why that box must be correct.
After approval, your cooperative is authorized, and the WSLCB may inspect the site between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. to confirm you follow the rules. You must keep the recordkeeping the rules require and report member changes within 15 days. Inspectors check plant counts, fencing, and that no product is leaving the cooperative.
A key duty continues for the life of the cooperative: if a member leaves, you notify the WSLCB within 15 days, and if you want to add a fourth member to replace one who left, 60 days must pass since that prior member stopped participating. A common misconception is that approval is permanent no matter what. Lena assumes her card lapsing is no big deal; if any member’s recognition card expires, the cooperative falls out of compliance and the WSLCB can revoke the authorization.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Listing a non-domicile grow site. The location must be a member’s home, and a warehouse or vacant lot fails the domicile rule and gets you denied.
- Naming five or more members. The law caps a cooperative at four, so a fifth name voids the structure and forces a rejection.
- Skipping a member’s recognition card. Every member needs a valid card, and one missing card disqualifies that member and threatens the whole filing.
- Choosing a site within one mile of a retailer. This buffer is strict, and a too-close location is an automatic denial.
- Ignoring the 1,000-foot school and park buffer. A grow near a school, playground, or park breaks the rule and ends the application.
- Putting two cooperatives on one tax parcel. Only one is allowed per parcel, so a duplicate parcel triggers a denial.
- Leaving birthdates or addresses blank in the member table. Empty boxes leave the form incomplete and delay review.
- Collecting only the primary contact’s signature. Every member must sign and date, or the certification is void for the missing signers.
- Mismatching names between the table, signature, and card. A nickname mismatch slows DOH cross-checks and can flag the member.
- Mailing instead of emailing. The WSLCB wants a scanned email to cannabiscooperatives@lcb.wa.gov, and mailing only delays you.
- Planning to sell or share product outside the group. The certification forbids this, and doing it is grounds for revocation and possible criminal exposure.
- Using a combustible extraction method. Butane, propane, and ethanol are expressly forbidden, and using them violates the rules you signed.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do confirm every member’s recognition card is current, because the entire cooperative rests on valid cards.
- Do measure both buffers before you pick a site, since a buffer violation cannot be fixed after filing.
- Do use full legal names everywhere, so the WSLCB can match each member to DOH records.
- Do keep a saved copy of the emailed form, because it is your only proof of filing.
- Do read every certification bullet, since you sign it under penalty of perjury.
- Do report member changes within 15 days, as late notice can put you out of compliance.
Don’t:
- Don’t list a grow site that no member lives in, because the domicile rule will sink it.
- Don’t add a fifth member, since four is the hard legal limit.
- Don’t sell or gift product to outsiders, as this voids your authorization.
- Don’t guess at plant totals, because exceeding card limits is a violation.
- Don’t leave any signature or date blank, since one gap voids that member’s certification.
- Don’t use solvents like butane to extract, as combustible methods are flatly banned.
Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Most cooperatives file this form themselves, but some hire a cannabis attorney or consultant, especially when renting or growing outdoors.
| Filing on Your Own | Filing With Professional Help |
|---|---|
| Free, since there is no application fee | Adds legal or consultant fees on top of a no-fee form |
| You learn the rules firsthand, which helps long-term compliance | A pro spots buffer and domicile problems before you file |
| Fast for a simple two-member home grow | Worth it for tricky rentals, outdoor fencing, or parcel disputes |
| Full control over every entry and timeline | Help with landlord permission and document requests |
| Risk of missing a buffer or certification detail | Lowers the odds of a denial that wastes weeks |
For a clean two-member indoor cooperative at one member’s home, doing it yourself is usually enough. For rented property, outdoor grows needing the eight-foot fence, or any address near a school or retailer, paid help can save a denial. Weigh the cost of help against the time you would lose if the WSLCB rejects your form.
FAQs
Is there a fee to file the cooperative registration?
No. The WSLCB charges no application fee for a cannabis cooperative registration, which makes it far cheaper than any commercial cannabis license in Washington.
Do all members need a recognition card?
Yes. Every participant and designated provider must hold a valid DOH recognition card, and a missing or expired card disqualifies that member from the cooperative.
Can a cooperative have more than four members?
No. The law caps a cooperative at four members total, so listing a fifth name on the form will cause a rejection.
Must the grow site be a member’s home?
Yes. The location must be the domicile of one participant, and only one cooperative is allowed per property tax parcel.
Do I check Yes or No in the “Designated Provider?” box for a patient?
No. Mark No for a qualifying patient and Yes only for a designated provider, since the box identifies each member’s role.
Should I use a nickname in the member name box?
No. Use your full legal name as it appears on your recognition card, because the WSLCB cross-checks names against DOH records.
Can the mailing address be a P.O. Box?
Yes. The mailing address may be a P.O. Box, but the location address must be a real physical home, never a P.O. Box.
Does only the primary contact sign the form?
No. Every member listed on page one must personally sign, print their name, and date their own line.
Can we sell extra cannabis to cover costs?
No. Members may not sell or give cannabis to anyone outside the cooperative, and doing so is grounds for revocation.
Can the cooperative be within one mile of a cannabis store?
No. The site cannot sit within one mile of a licensed cannabis retailer, and a closer location is an automatic denial.
Do I file this through the WSLCB online Portal?
No. You scan the signed form and email it to cannabiscooperatives@lcb.wa.gov, since the Portal is for commercial licensees.
How long must I wait to add a replacement fourth member?
Yes, there is a wait. Sixty days must pass since the prior member stopped participating before you add a new fourth member.
Can I use butane to make concentrates?
No. Combustible solvents like butane, propane, and ethanol are expressly forbidden, and only listed noncombustible methods are allowed.
Must I tell the WSLCB when a member leaves?
Yes. You must notify the WSLCB within 15 days of any member joining or leaving the cooperative to stay in compliance.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out the Washington LCB Cannabis Processor License Application + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Washington LCB Cannabis Producer License Application + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Washington LCB Cannabis Retailer License Application + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Washington LCB Grocery Store License Application + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Washington LCB Cannabis Cooperative Registration Application (LIQ 1275) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the METRC Track-and-Trace Enrollment (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California DCC Cannabis Distributor License Application + FAQs