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Is THC-O Acetate Legal in Washington? (2026)

Illegal

As of November 12, 2026, THC-O Acetate is illegal to sell (federally scheduled; state law on file reads illegal) in Washington. THC-O acetate federally illegal from Nov 12, 2026: it leaves hemp as a cannabinoid the plant cannot make and falls in Schedule I. Controlling source: RCW 69.50.3251, Cannabis manufacture, sale, distribution prohibited without a license; synthetic cannabinoids prohibited.

Verified November 12, 2026 (hash check) · confidence: confirmed

Is THC-O Acetate Legal? Every state and federal law

Washington THC-O Acetate ban status: ban in force

Watchenforcement date in 28 days (H.R. 6500 (Pub. L. 119-103) / Pub. L. 119-37 Sec. 781)
Federal
THC-O acetate federally illegal from Nov 12, 2026: it leaves hemp as a cannabinoid the plant cannot make and falls in Schedule I (effective 2026-11-12). State-law reading underneath: Illegal.
Rule type
permanent
Tier
Prohibited
Effective
2023-07-23
Effectively prohibitive
Synthetically derived cannabinoids are prohibited outright by RCW 69.50.3251(3); no licensed path except FDA-approved products.

What the record says

RCW 69.50.3251(3) prohibits producing, processing, manufacturing, or selling any synthetically derived or completely synthetic cannabinoid, except FDA-approved products. THC-O acetate is made by acetylating hemp-derived THC with acetic anhydride and does not occur in the plant, so it is a synthetically derived cannabinoid under the plain terms of the section. The prohibition applies inside and outside the WSLCB licensed cannabis system (RCW 69.50.101(8)(a) routes detectable-THC products to licensees).

Controlling language, verbatim

(3) The producing, processing, manufacturing, or sale of any synthetically derived, or completely synthetic, cannabinoid is prohibited, except for products approved by the United States food and drug administration.

Source of excerpt

Citations

  1. RCW 69.50.3251, Cannabis manufacture, sale, distribution prohibited without a license; synthetic cannabinoids prohibited (Washington State Legislature, 2026-11-06) PRIMARYOFFICIAL
  2. SB 5367 - 2023-24 bill summary and history (Washington State Legislature, 2026-11-06) PRIMARYOFFICIAL
  3. WSLCB: Hemp-Derived and Synthetic THC Products, Legal? (Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, 2026-07-19)OFFICIAL

Where THC-O Acetate stands across the country

LegalRestrictedGray areaIllegalNot yet verified

Among Washington’s 2 neighbors, Idaho and Oregon are illegal, the same posture as Washington.

Open the interactive map · Every compound in Washington · Where THC-O Acetate is banned · Hemp ban in Washington · THC ban in Washington · Federal hemp ban: what changes Nov 12 and Dec 11 · Embed this map

Federal posture

Federally scheduled or prohibited. THC-O acetate federally illegal from Nov 12, 2026: it leaves hemp as a cannabinoid the plant cannot make and falls in Schedule I Federal detail

Verbatim law on file for Washington

8 instruments on file for this compound’s framework in Washington; 3 of 3 citations above are official sources. Each text carries its source and a fingerprint that changes when the law does.

Official text, app.leg.wa.gov · Controlling provision (official text)OFFICIAL
Instrument
Controlling provision (official text)
Source
https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=15.140.020
Retrieved
2026-11-01
Fingerprint
334f97253faa9ea0
(7) "Hemp" means the plant
Cannabis sativa L.

and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.
RCW 15.140.020 · Definitions -- Hemp (delta-9-only); Hemp consumable (includes inhalation)OFFICIAL
Instrument
Definitions -- Hemp (delta-9-only); Hemp consumable (includes inhalation)
Source
https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=15.140.020
Retrieved
2026-07-02
Fingerprint
8f2ff536faa0aba7
RCW 15.140.020 Definitions.

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) “Agriculture improvement act of 2018” means sections 7605, 10113, 10114, and 12619 of the agriculture improvement act of 2018, P.L. 115-334.

(2) “Cannabis” has the meaning provided in RCW 69.50.101.

(3) “Crop” means hemp grown as an agricultural commodity.

(4) “Cultivar” means a variation of the plant Cannabis sativa L. that has been developed through cultivation by selective breeding.

(5) "Department" means the Washington state department of agriculture.

(6) "Food" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 69.07.010.

(7) "Hemp" means the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.

(8) “Hemp consumable” means a product that is sold or provided to another person, that is:
(a) Made of hemp;
(b) Not a cannabis product, as defined in RCW 69.50.101; and
(c) Intended to be consumed or absorbed inside the body by any means, including inhalation, ingestion, or insertion.

(9) "Hemp processor" means a person who takes possession of raw hemp material with the intent to modify, package, or sell a transitional or finished hemp product.

(10)(a) “Industrial hemp” means all parts and varieties of the genera Cannabis, cultivated or possessed by a grower, whether growing or not, that contain a tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of 0.3 percent or less by dry weight that was grown under the industrial hemp research program as it existed on December 31, 2019.
(b) “Industrial hemp” does not include plants of the genera Cannabis that meet the definition of “cannabis.”

(11) "Postharvest test" means a test of tetrahydrocannabinol concentration levels of hemp after being harvested based on:
(a) Ground whole plant samples without heat applied; or
(b) Other approved testing methods.

(12) “Process” means the processing, compounding, or conversion of hemp into hemp commodities or products.

(13) “Produce” or “production” means the planting, cultivation, growing, or harvesting of hemp including hemp seed.
RCW 69.50.101 · Controlling provision (official text)OFFICIAL
Instrument
Controlling provision (official text)
Source
https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=69.50.101
Retrieved
2026-11-01
Fingerprint
a78c55800da4959c
(8)(a) "Cannabis products" means useable cannabis, cannabis concentrates, and cannabis-infused products as defined in this section, including any product intended to be consumed or absorbed inside the body by any means including inhalation, ingestion, or insertion, with any detectable amount of THC.
Show 5 more laws on file
RCW 69.50.101(4), (8)(a), (49); RCW 15.140.020 (SB 5367, 2023) · RCW 69.50.101(4), (8)(a), (49); RCW 15.140.020 (SB 5367, 2023)OFFICIAL
Instrument
RCW 69.50.101(4), (8)(a), (49); RCW 15.140.020 (SB 5367, 2023)
Source
https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=69.50.101
Retrieved
2026-10-07
Fingerprint
f3042f0e75f2f10b
RCW 69.50.101(8)(a) ["Cannabis products" means products] "with any detectable amount of THC" [...]. (49) [“THC concentration” means] "percent of tetrahydrocannabinol content of any part of the plant Cannabis" [counting combined THC and THCA regardless of moisture]. (4) [Cannabis] "does not include hemp or industrial hemp as defined in RCW 15.140.020." [Bracketed spans summarized.]
RCW 69.50.3251 · Cannabis manufacture, sale, distribution prohibited without a license; synthetic cannabinoids prohibitedOFFICIAL
Instrument
Cannabis manufacture, sale, distribution prohibited without a license; synthetic cannabinoids prohibited
Source
https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=69.50.3251
Retrieved
2026-11-02
Fingerprint
cf785a6bb68ba734
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or as permitted under an agreement between the state and a tribe entered into under RCW 43.06.490, no person may manufacture, sell, or distribute cannabis, cannabis concentrates, useable cannabis, or cannabis-infused products, or any cannabis products without a valid license issued by the board or commission.
(2) Except as permitted under an agreement between the state and a tribe entered into under RCW 43.06.490, any person performing any act requiring a license under this title, without having in force an appropriate and valid license issued to the person, is in violation of this chapter.
(3) The producing, processing, manufacturing, or sale of any synthetically derived, or completely synthetic, cannabinoid is prohibited, except for products approved by the United States food and drug administration.
RCW 69.50.3251 (synthetically derived cannabinoid prohibition) · Controlling provision (official text)OFFICIAL
Instrument
Controlling provision (official text)
Source
https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=69.50.3251
Retrieved
2026-11-01
Fingerprint
1d373a42067c664a
(3) The producing, processing, manufacturing, or sale of any synthetically derived, or completely synthetic, cannabinoid is prohibited, except for products approved by the United States food and drug administration.
RCW 69.50.575 · 69.50.575. Cannabis health and beauty aids.OFFICIAL
Instrument
69.50.575. Cannabis health and beauty aids.
Source
https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=69.50.575
Retrieved
2026-07-18
Fingerprint
ddf002e2f91de129
(1) Cannabis health and beauty aids are not subject to the regulations and penalties of this chapter that apply to cannabis, cannabis concentrates, or cannabis-infused products. (2) For purposes of this section, "cannabis health and beauty aid" means a product containing parts of the cannabis plant and which: (a) Is intended for use only as a topical application to provide therapeutic benefit or to enhance appearance; (b) Contains a THC concentration of not more than 0.3 percent; (c) Does not cross the blood-brain barrier; and (d) Is not intended for ingestion by humans or animals.
RCW 69.50.575 (Cannabis health and beauty aids); RCW 69.50.101(8)(a) (cannabis product definition -- detectable-THC trigger) · 69.50.575. Cannabis health and beauty aids; and the RCW 69.50.101(8)(a) cannabis-product definitionOFFICIAL
Instrument
69.50.575. Cannabis health and beauty aids; and the RCW 69.50.101(8)(a) cannabis-product definition
Source
https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=69.50.575
Retrieved
2026-07-19
Fingerprint
03e1ee28695e3aab
RCW 69.50.575. Cannabis health and beauty aids. (1) Cannabis health and beauty aids are not subject to the regulations and penalties of this chapter that apply to cannabis, cannabis concentrates, or cannabis-infused products. (2) For purposes of this section, 'cannabis health and beauty aid' means a product containing parts of the cannabis plant and which: (a) Is intended for use only as a topical application to provide therapeutic benefit or to enhance appearance; (b) Contains a THC concentration of not more than 0.3 percent; (c) Does not cross the blood-brain barrier; and (d) Is not intended for ingestion by humans or animals. Operative routing rule -- RCW 69.50.101(8)(a): 'Cannabis products' means useable cannabis, cannabis concentrates, and cannabis-infused products as defined in this section, including any product intended to be consumed or absorbed inside the body by any means including inhalation, ingestion, or insertion, with any detectable amount of THC. WSLCB official position (Hemp-Derived and Synthetic THC Products -- Legal?): intoxicating hemp-derived and synthetic cannabinoids, including delta-8, delta-10, THC-O, HHC, and THCP, are regulated as cannabis and are not lawful for sale outside the WSLCB-licensed cannabis system, regardless of the state of origin.

THC-O Acetate in neighboring states

THC-O Acetate in 48 other states

Closest to THC-O Acetate in Washington

Same framework in Washington

30 other compounds in Washington

Cite this page

Compound Analytics. "Is THC-O Acetate Legal in Washington? (2026)." Compound Laws, https://compoundlaws.com/compounds/thco/washington/. Accessed November 13, 2026.

Compound Laws, published by Compound Analytics, reports the record: statutes verbatim, official citations, enforcement facts and verification dates. Nothing here is legal advice and nothing here describes how to get around a law. A jurisdiction with no verified row is reported as not yet verified, never as legal. Found an error? Corrections policy.

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