The District of Columbia Medical Marijuana Program is embodied under Amendment Act B18-622 which was approved unanimously by the Council of District of Columbia on May 04, 2010, and signed by the Mayor on May 21, 2010. After undergoing a thirty-day review period, the Medical Marijuana law became effective on July 27, 2010. The law has since been updated and revised to include provisions on the registration of patients, caregivers, physicians, and dispensaries and to establish a timeline for the registration process of dispensaries. Registration of qualifying patients and designated caregivers is mandatory. The District of Columbia Medical Marijuana Program has no reciprocity provision and does not accept other states’ registration IDs.
To qualify for a patient registration card under the medical marijuana program, the applicant must be diagnosed by a licensed physician as having a qualifying medical condition or undergoing qualifying medical treatment, have a signed written recommendation for the use of medical marijuana by a licensed physician, have a signed written consent of parent or legal guardian (for minors or those who have no legal capacity), and be a resident of District of Columbia.
Under the law, two (2) ounces of dried medical marijuana per month or its equivalent when sold in any form are authorized for a qualifying patient to possess and/or purchase.
Caregiver Laws
A caregiver is an individual, designated by a qualifying patient, who has agreed to assist in the patient’s medical use of marijuana and is authorized to possess and obtain medical marijuana from a dispensary. A caregiver may only assist one (1) qualifying patient. As part of the application process, a caregiver applicant is required by the law to undergo a criminal background check. A designated caregiver must meet the following qualifications and requirements:
- At least 18 years old
- Must be designated by a qualifying patient
- Not currently serving as caregiver to another qualifying patient
- Must be registered with the Department of Health (DOH) as the qualifying patient’s caregiver
Dispensary Laws
A dispensary is a registered and licensed facility that is authorized to sell medical marijuana as well as manufacture, purchase, possess, and distribute paraphernalia to registered qualifying patients and caregivers. The law provides that the number of dispensaries registered to operate in the DC shall not exceed five (5) and they shall not be located within 300 feet of pre-school, primary or secondary school, or recreation centers. The facility must be operational within 120 days of the license-issued date. Only registered qualifying patients and designated primary caregivers are allowed to visit dispensaries to obtain medical marijuana. However, the law prescribes that each person can only purchase medical marijuana from the dispensary designated on his registration identification card. Anyone who is under 18 years old is not authorized to enter any dispensary.
Growing Laws
The law provides that only licensed and registered cultivation centers are authorized to grow and cultivate medical marijuana and distribute in any safe form. For quality assurance and safety purposes, medical marijuana shall be subject to testing. Qualifying patients and designated caregivers are prohibited from growing medical marijuana.