District Of Columbia

Washington DC

6,792
Registered Patient Population

0.96%
of Total Population Represented by Patients

8
Total Medical Retail Locations Currently in Operation

849 : 1
Patients : Retail

Cannabis is legal to possess for all adults over 21. Anyone may cultivate up to six plants at home for personal use, or twelve plants in a household of two or more adults. Commercial cannabis sales remain illegal outside of DC’s medical program. Patients in the District are limited by a limited number of dispensaries and relatively high prices. Patients visiting the District from states with “functionally equivalent” programs have the benefit of reciprocity.

Patient Rights and Civil Protection

79/100

Access to Medicine

78/100

Functionality

81/100

Consumer Safety and Provider Requirements

66.2/100

Dispensing	16.01/25
Staff Training	5/5
Standard Operating Procedures	5/5
– Facility Sanitary Conditions	1.25/1.25
– Storage Protocols	1.25/1.25
– Reasonable Security Protocols	1.25/1.25
– Inventory Control	1.25/1.25
Recall Protocol and Adverse Event Reporting	0/5
Product Labeling	3.34/5
– Product Contents, Including Source Material Identification	1.67/1.67
– Allergens	0/1.67
– Potency/Compound Identification	1.67/1.67
Required Testing	2.67/5
– Active Compound Identification	1.67/1.67
– Contaminants	0/1.67
– Potency	1/1.67
Grow/Cultivation	17.5/25
Staff Training	5/5
Standard Operating Procedures	5/5
– Facility and Equipment Sanitary Conditions	0.71/0.71
– Workforce Safety Protocols	0.71/0.71
– Storage Protocols (Short-Term and Long-Term Storage)	0.71/0.71
– Reasonable Security Protocols	0.71/0.71
– Batch and Lot Tracking	0.71/0.71
– Disposal/Waste	0.71/0.71
– Water Management	0.71/0.71
Pesticide Guidance	3/5
– Pesticide Guidance	2/2.5
– Pesticide Labeling	1/2.5
Required Testing	2.5/5
– Active Ingredient Identification	1.25/1.25
– Contaminants	0/1.25
– Potency	1.25/1.25
– Sample Retention	0/1.25
Recall Protocol and Adverse Event Reporting	2/5
Manufacturing	12.67/25
Staff Training	5/5
Standard Operating Procedures	4/5
– Facility and Equipment Sanitary Conditions	1/1
– Workforce Safety Protocols	0/1
– Storage Protocols	1/1
– Reasonable Security Protocols	1/1
– Batch and Lot Tracking	1/1
Product Labeling	2.67/5
– Product Contents, Including Source Material Identification	1.67/1.67
– Allergens	1/1.67
– Potency and Compound Information	0/1.67
Required Testing	1/5
– Active Ingredient Identification	1/1
– Contaminants	0/1
– Potency	0/1
– Shelf Life Testing	0/1
– Sample Retention	0/1
Recall Protocol and Adverse Event Reporting	0/5
Laboratory Operations	20/25
Staff Training	5/5
Method Validation in Accordance with AHP Guidelines	0/5
Result Reporting	5/5
Independent or Third Party	5/5
Standard Operating Procedures and Protocols	5/5
– Equipment and Instrument Calibration	0.83/0.83
– Sample Tracking	0.83/0.83
– Facility and Equipment Sanitary Conditions	0.83/0.83
– Disposal/Waste	0.83/0.83
– Storage Protocols	0.83/0.83
– Workforce Safety Protocols	0.83/0.83

Covid Response

14/20

Excerpted from ASA's 2020 State of the States Report.

In This Section

District of Columbia Medical Cannabis Laws & Regulations

The voters of Washington, D.C. first approved medical cannabis in 1998 with the passage of Initiative 59 (I-59), which received 69% of the vote and earned majority support in every voting precinct in the District.

Becoming a Patient in the District of Columbia

Patients are allowed to designate one person to be their “designated caregiver” to assist them with their medical cannabis therapy.

Recommending Cannabis in the District of Columbia

A physician may recommend the use of medical marijuana to a qualifying patient if the physician is in a bona fide physician-patient relationship with the qualifying patient, has completed a full assessment of the patient’s medical history and current medical condition, including an in-person physical examination, performed not more than ninety (90) days prior to making the recommendation, and has resumed the responsibility for the ongoing care and treatment of the patient.

District Of Columbia

Washington DC

In This Section

District of Columbia Medical Cannabis Laws & Regulations

Becoming a Patient in the District of Columbia

Recommending Cannabis in the District of Columbia

Becoming a Caregiver, Producer or Provider in the District of Columbia

Washington DC Advocacy

The State of Medical Marijuana in District Of Columbia

In This Section

Resources

State Advocacy Resources

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