Washington D.C. Cannabis Laws & Dispensary Compliance Guide
Last reviewed: June 14, 2026
Dutchie does not provide compliance advice. Merchants are responsible for their own compliance. External Dutchie compliance documentation may be updated from time to time and has been prepared for informational purposes only, is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or compliance advice. Merchants should consult their own tax, legal and compliance advisors to determine how best to operate within the cannabis industry.
Market Type
In Washington D.C. cannabis sales are for medical patients. Personal, non-commercial gifting of up to 1 oz between adults 21+ remains legal under Initiative 71. Only licensed medical cannabis sales are permitted in the District. Individuals may self-certify online.
Metrc and Inventory
Washington D.C. uses METRC as a seed-to-sale traceability provider. In Washington D.C. sales are reported to METRC for both local medical patients (who have registered with the D.C. medical cannabis program) as well as out-of-state medical patients from a reciprocal state who are making a medical cannabis purchase.
Purchase Limits
- 4 Oz per 30 day period
- Patients with a written certification from a doctor are able to purchase products up to 500mg THC per package; self-certified patients are limited to 100mg THC per package.
Equivalencies: Washington D.C. rules mention ‘Equivalent’ values in their rules, however cannabis product equivalencies are never explicitly defined.
Taxes
Cannabis specific taxes are not outlined for the D.C. medical cannabis program.
Medical Cannabis purchases are subject to the local sales tax of 5.75%.
Delivery
Maximum amount of inventory for delivery: ABCA does not define specific inventory maximums, however a delivery driver may not at any time possess a combined total of cash and medical cannabis exceeding $5,000 in value.
Delivery operations: A delivery driver may deliver to multiple locations in a single dispatch, however a driver may not make more than 10 deliveries in a single dispatch.
Delivery misc.
- All vehicles must have GPS.
- Delivery hours are limited to 9am - 9pm
- At retailer discretion, patients may be required to pay electronically.
Things to Note
Currently any adult 21 or older may ‘self-certify’ as a valid medical patient in Washington D.C. Self Certification can be done online via the ABCA website, and requires a registration fee. Once an adult has self certified, they receive an electronic patient registration card from ABCA. Non-residents, including temporary visitors, may also obtain a temporary registration to participate in the program.
State Resources
Recent Updates
Beginning in August 2023, licensing applications open for cannabis retailers who are currently running unlicensed operations.
