DC now allows tourists to buy medical marijuana

Tourists will soon be able to buy medical marijuana in Washington, DC. The measure aims to boost tourism and encourage people to travel to the capital.

The bill, signed by Mayor Muriel Bowser, will allow tourists to identify themselves as medical patients for the duration of their stay. This will allow them to buy marijuana without a doctor’s recommendation.

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Passing unanimously, the bill will increase the amount of medical marijuana a patient can possess from four to eight ounces. It also makes it easier for residents of neighboring states to access medical marijuana in DC, for whatever reason.

In July, Bowser signed the Medical Marijuana Self-Certification Emergency Amendment Act of 2022, allowing residents to self-certify as medical marijuana patients and purchase cannabis from licensed retailers. This new law extends these rights to tourists.

Non-DC citizens (domestic and international visitors) are now eligible for temporary medical cannabis patient registration. Registrations are valid for 30 days and can be used immediately after completing the application.

Apply: linkhttps://abra.dc.gov/node/1626021

— DCGov_ABRA (@DCGov_ABRA) October 21, 2022

Marijuana Moment spoke to Dr. Chanda Macias, founder of the National Holistic Healing Center, a DC pharmacy, who praised the new law.

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“This will result in greater patient access to herbal medicine and introduce new patients to the thriving local medical marijuana landscape. These recent actions are proof that Washington, DC is at the forefront of expanding patient access for all,” she said.

DC has some of the most confusing marijuana laws in the country. While it is legal to grow and possess marijuana, it remains illegal to sell it. While frowned upon, “gifting” remains an option, meaning people can buy marijuana through a loophole in the law, allowing sellers to gift them marijuana while selling an item.

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What makes matters even more confusing is the fact that marijuana is illegal at the federal level, meaning people who possess it in areas like government buildings, national parks, and more face penalties. These areas make up large parts of DC and allow people to break the law without even knowing they are doing it.

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Following Biden’s decision to pardon marijuana crimes, he is the only person under current law who could grant pardons to residents of Washington, DC. Other states in the country have the option to handle this process independently, making pardons more seamless.