Washington DC just legalized weed for all adults – but only for locals
DC’s mayor opens up access to medical care to all adult residents
medical providers a chance against popular “gift shops”.
In a move that received little attention from the national media, Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser last week effectively legalized cannabis for all adults in the nation’s capital.
There’s a catch, however: the mayor’s new rule only applies to legal adult residents of the borough.
In a move to protect the district’s licensed medical marijuana dispensaries, whose market was being eroded by unlicensed weed “gift” shops, Mayor Bowser signed an emergency declaration (the Medical Marijuana Self-Certification Emergency Amendment Act of 2022) that it allows residents 21 and older to self-certify as medical marijuana patients.
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Marijuana Laws in Washington, DC
The measure was approved by the DC City Council at the end of June.
The new law means residents 21 and older will no longer need a doctor’s referral to obtain a medical marijuana card, which is required to gain access to any of DC’s seven licensed dispensaries.
“We’ve made it a priority over the years to build a more patient-centric medical marijuana program, and this legislation builds on those efforts. We know that by bringing more medical marijuana patients into the legal marketplace in a timely manner and doing more to level the playing field for licensed medical marijuana providers, we can protect residents, support local businesses and bring clarity to the community.”
– Mayor Bowser, in a statement
Adults who wish to obtain or renew their DC medical marijuana cards may select a “self-certification” option rather than submitting a medical referral online, in person, or by mail. This site is available here.
The new rule does not apply to applications from minors under the age of 21. All applicants must still provide their social security number, photo, and proof of residency in DC.
The application fees are waived up to August 18th, for applications up to September 30th the cards are valid for two years.
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Medical marijuana laws in the United States
DC dispensaries recognize reciprocity for non-residents seeking medical marijuana, but their card and endorsement must be government-issued; Third-party services like NuggMD are not recognized.
The ongoing fight against cannabis gift giving
Bowser and council members have said the bill is part of ongoing efforts to expand access to medical marijuana for patients while tackling the gray area of gift shops.
These gift shops allow customers to buy cannabis through a loophole by purchasing a jewelry or non-weed item and receiving the cannabis as a “gift”. A recent attempt to crack down on businesses that don’t have to regulate or test their cannabis products was defeated by the DC Council.
A number of states, including Connecticut and New York, have recently enacted laws or issued warnings against gifting.
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The Connecticut government is signing legislation to crack down on weed giving away
It remains to be seen whether this new approach will discourage consumers and patients from shopping in gift shops, but it’s also only a short-term fix — the bill is only valid for 90 days while Bowser and the city work on a more permanent approach.
Amelie Williams
New York-based freelance cannabis journalist Amelia Williams is a graduate of San Francisco State University’s journalism program and a former budtender. Williams has contributed to GreenState, MG Magazine, Culture Magazine and Cannabis Now, Kirkus Reviews and The Bold Italic of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Check out Amelia Williams’ articles
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