{"id":372299,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:49","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/dc-law\/district-of-columbia-marijuana-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-06-17T12:50:59","modified_gmt":"2024-06-17T17:50:59","slug":"district-of-columbia-marijuana-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/dc-law\/district-of-columbia-marijuana-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"District of Columbia Marijuana Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

District of Columbia Marijuana Laws<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By Kit Yona, M.A.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by John Mascolo, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Some things are difficult to understand. Others are downright confusing and even mystifying. And then, on a completely different level, there’s the District of Columbia marijuana laws. While not a state (it’s a district<\/a>), Washington, D.C., still has some autonomy from the federal government. The D.C. council and mayor act like a state legislature and governor, but Congress oversees D.C. laws<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

The nation’s capital was at the forefront of legalizing cannabis by approving medical cannabis for severe medical conditions with Initiative 59<\/a> in 1998. Dispensaries started selling medical cannabis to qualified D.C. residents who were at least 21 years of age in 2013.<\/p>\r\n

In 2014, Initiative 71<\/a> followed, making possession of up to two ounces of marijuana for recreational use legal for those at least 21. Still, Initiative 71 didn’t allow the sale of adult-use recreational marijuana in the District of Columbia. This was despite the legalization of possession of minimal amounts.<\/p>\r\n

Scratching your head yet? In this article, we’ll cut through the at-times confounding Washington, D.C., marijuana laws and help you understand what’s permitted. We’ll discuss how much cannabis is legal to carry, possess, and grow. We’ll address the newest laws, recreational and medical use.<\/p>\r\n

Together, let’s untangle the snarl that is Washington, D.C., marijuana laws.<\/p>\r\n

District of Columbia Marijuana Laws<\/h2>\r\n

Any discussion of marijuana laws in Washington, D.C., has to address the elephant in the room \u2014 the federal government. While District law permits the recreational use of legal marijuana, the Controlled Substance Act<\/a> is a federal law still on the books that makes possession of marijuana illegal.<\/p>\r\n

Federal officials generally don’t interfere with states that have legalized cannabis in small amounts. But, they do enforce federal prohibitions on federal land. The District of Columbia has a lot of federal land, which means that what’s "legal" or "permitted" changes from street to street.<\/p>\r\n

While some have made efforts to remove marijuana<\/a> from the act, as of May 2024, it’s still a Schedule I drug<\/a> under federal law. For your own sake, be aware of what you’re carrying and where you are.<\/p>\r\n

Buying Legal Marijuana in the District of Columbia<\/h3>\r\n

Despite Initiative 71 allowing the possession and use of cannabis, it’s still illegal to buy recreational marijuana in Washington, D.C., thanks to Congress. For several years, Congress has attached a provision to its budget bills called the "Harris rider<\/a>" that prevents the sale of recreational cannabis in D.C. While that seems counterintuitive, the ingenuity of D.C. residents resulted in a few workarounds.<\/p>\r\n

Recreational cannabis may be illegal to buy in the District, but medical marijuana is available at dispensaries. The Medical Marijuana Self-Certification Emergency Amendment Act of 2022<\/a> allowed residents 21 and older to apply for medical marijuana use with self-certification<\/a> instead of requiring a physician.<\/p>\r\n

Gifting is also a popular method. Those seeking recreational marijuana can buy something like a T-shirt or a sticker at a store, which then gives them a "gift" of a marijuana product as a bonus for their purchase. This works well, but the District has encouraged I-71 stores to apply for medical marijuana dispensary licenses while taking steps to punish those who don’t<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Using Marijuana in the District of Columbia<\/h3>\r\n

In Washington, D.C., it’s illegal to use any marijuana products in public. Recreational and medical marijuana use is legal on private property with the owner’s permission<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

In another development, the District’s Summer Garden program<\/a> hopes to begin in the Summer of 2024. The 2022 D.C. Medical Cannabis bill allows retailers who get the proper license from the Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) to host medical cannabis users at a social venue. The following conditions will apply:<\/p>\r\n