Cannabis in District Of Columbia

Adults 21 and older can legally possess and grow cannabis in Washington, D.C., but the only legal way to buy it is through the District's medical cannabis program. Initiative 71, approved by voters on November 4, 2014 and in force since February 26, 2015, lets adults possess up to 2 ounces, use cannabis on private property, give away up to 1 ounce with nothing in return, and grow up to six plants (no more than three mature) at their primary residence. A congressional budget rider known as the Harris rider has kept the District from licensing adult-use sales ever since.

The medical program fills that gap. The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) lets DC residents 21 and older self-certify online instead of getting a practitioner's recommendation. Residents receive a temporary digital registration valid for 90 days as soon as they apply, and the full registration is free and lasts two years. Visitors 21 and older must self-certify and can register for 30, 90, 180 or 365 days for $10 to $100, and licensed stores also honor patient cards from most states. Registered patients may buy up to 8 ounces in a rolling 30-day period and must show a government photo ID. Purchases carry a 6% sales tax; in June 2026 the DC Council rejected a proposal to raise it to 10.25%.

ABCA says the District has more than 70 licensed physical and online retailers, open between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.; internet retailers only deliver. Unlicensed 'gifting' shops that hand over cannabis with a sticker or T-shirt purchase are illegal, and a task force led by ABCA had padlocked 100 of them by January 8, 2026. On July 30, 2026, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed an emergency act, in force until October 28, 2026, that lets conditional medical licensees open with a zoning certificate instead of a certificate of occupancy.

Using cannabis in public, including in bars and restaurants, and driving under its influence remain crimes. Check a store on ABCA's retailer map and look for its posted ABCA license. This page is general information, not legal advice.