Washington, D.C.’s medical marijuana program began with voter-approved Initiative 59 in 1998, was blocked by Congress for over a decade, made its first legal sale in July 2013, and in 2026 lets any adult 21 or older register by self-certifying, without a doctor’s recommendation. Registered patients can buy up to 8 ounces in a rolling 30 days from more than 70 licensed retailers regulated by the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA).
This page used to be a short reflection on D.C.’s then-new program, titled “The Sunrise and Sunset of Medical Marijuana,” written as Colorado was reviewing its own. The sunrise part turned out to be long and slow, and D.C.’s program is now the main legal way to buy cannabis in the capital. Here is the full history and how the program works as of October 27, 2026, with each rule linked to ABCA or the D.C. Code.
D.C. medical marijuana timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Voters approve Initiative 59, 69% yes; Congress’s Barr Amendment blocks it, even the release of the vote count at first |
| 2009 | Congress drops the Barr language from the D.C. spending bill |
| 2010 | D.C. Law 18-210, the Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Treatment Amendment Act, takes effect July 27 |
| 2013 | First legal medical sale, at Capital City Care, July 29 |
| 2015 | Initiative 71 legalizes adult possession and home grow, but not sales (effective Feb. 26) |
| 2017 | Medical Marijuana Omnibus Amendment Act of 2016 takes effect (D.C. Law 21-209) |
| 2022-2023 | Council overhauls the program with the Medical Cannabis Amendment Act of 2022, opening licenses to former “gifting” shops; patient rules amended again by D.C. Law 24-332, effective March 22, 2023 |
| 2025 | Summary closure of unlicensed cannabis shops allowed after April 1 |
| 2026 | New ABCA patient portal launches August 18 |
How did D.C.’s medical marijuana program start?
D.C. voters approved medical marijuana in November 1998 by 75,536 to 34,621, but Congress used its control of the District’s budget to block the law until 2009. The Barr Amendment barred D.C. from spending money on Initiative 59 and initially kept the vote total from being released, as the record on Initiative 59 shows. After Congress lifted the rider, the D.C. Council passed a new medical law, D.C. Law 18-210, effective July 27, 2010. It took three more years to license growers and stores. The first sale came on July 29, 2013 at Capital City Care on North Capitol Street, when only a handful of patients were registered, NORML reported. Our full account of those 15 years is in D.C. Initiative 59: The 15-Year Road.
Who can get a D.C. medical marijuana card in 2026?
D.C. residents of any age can register (minors need an adult caregiver), and residents 21 and older can self-certify instead of getting a healthcare recommendation; residents 20 and younger still need one. D.C. Code 7-1671.02 lets people 21 and older self-certify “on a form provided by ABCA.” Non-residents 21 and older can also register by self-certification, but they cannot use recommendations or caregivers, according to ABCA’s patient page.
| D.C. residents | Non-residents | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | All ages (minors need a caregiver) | 21+ only |
| Doctor’s recommendation | Only if 20 or younger; 21+ may self-certify | Not accepted; self-certify |
| Temporary registration | Digital, valid 90 days, usable right away | None |
| Length | 2 years | Choose a period |
| Fee | Digital registration free (physical card extra) | $10 to $100 depending on length |
| ID | Government photo ID plus proof of D.C. residency | Government photo ID |
| Caregiver | Allowed | Not allowed |
ABCA’s fee schedule lists non-resident registrations from $10 for 3 days to $100 for 365 days, and $10 for a resident’s physical card. Residents on Medicaid or DC Alliance, or with household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, can request a discounted-product designation.
How do you register as a D.C. medical patient?
Apply online through the ABCA customer portal at MyABCA.DC.Gov; D.C. residents get a temporary digital registration valid for 90 days while staff review the application. The new portal opened August 18, 2026. Applications filed in the old system before 8 a.m. that day finish processing there. Patients who already hold a valid registration should not create a new account. Renewing within 30 days of expiration keeps your patient number. ABCA says it does not share personal details with other District agencies, federal agencies or third parties, and retailers track purchases with a random patient number.
How much can a D.C. patient buy, and where?
Registered patients may buy up to 8 ounces of medical cannabis within a rolling 30-day period, only from ABCA-licensed retailers or internet retailers. D.C. Code 7-1671.02(d) requires that medical cannabis come from a licensed source. ABCA’s retailer locator says the District has “more than 70 physical and online licensed retailers,” which may open as early as 7 a.m. and close as late as 11 p.m. Internet retailers deliver only. Licensed stores must display their paper ABCA license, and internet retailers must show it on their home page, so you can tell a legal store from an unlicensed one.
Do out-of-state medical cards work in D.C.?
Yes, in most cases (see our medical marijuana card guide for how cards work in other states). ABCA says licensed retailers accept registrations from most U.S. states, territories and select tribal nations; bring your card or digital credential and confirm your program is on ABCA’s reciprocity list.
Why is medical the only legal way to buy in D.C.?
Initiative 71 made it legal for adults 21 and older to possess up to 2 ounces and grow six plants, but Congress has barred D.C. from spending its own money to set up recreational sales. Adult-use sales “remain unlawful” under D.C. Code 48-904.01, and the rider language appears in the federal spending law (sec. 809 of P.L. 118-47 for fiscal 2024). For years that gap was filled by “gifting” shops that sold a product and “gave away” cannabis. The 2022 overhaul let those operators apply for medical licenses, and after April 1, 2025, the city can summarily close unlicensed cannabis businesses (D.C. Code 7-1671.06b). Self-certification means an adult visitor can register online, so the medical program now works as D.C.’s legal retail market. See How to Buy Weed in D.C. for a step-by-step shopping guide.
Does federal rescheduling apply to D.C. dispensaries?
It is not yet clear. The April 2026 federal order (91 FR 22714) moved marijuana held under “a state-issued license” for medical purposes to Schedule III. Whether the federal government treats D.C.’s ABCA licenses as state licenses for that order has not been settled in anything we have read. Federal law still bans possession on federal land, including National Park Service land such as the National Mall; our federal marijuana laws guide explains those rules.
What this means for you
If you are 21 or older, you can register as a D.C. medical patient online, without seeing a doctor, and buy from a licensed store the same day using your temporary registration. Visitors pay a small fee for a short registration; residents pay nothing for the digital version. Buy only at stores showing an ABCA license, keep within 8 ounces per 30 days, don’t use cannabis in public or on federal parkland, and never carry it out of D.C. The full rules, including penalties and home grow, are in our Washington, D.C. marijuana laws guide.
D.C. Medical Marijuana Program FAQ
Do you need a doctor to get a medical card in D.C.?
Not if you are 21 or older. Adults 21+ can self-certify through ABCA. Residents 20 and younger need a healthcare practitioner’s recommendation.
Can tourists get a D.C. medical marijuana card?
Yes. Non-residents 21 and older can self-certify and buy a registration lasting from a few days to a year, for $10 to $100.
How much does a D.C. medical card cost?
The digital registration is free for D.C. residents; a physical card costs $10. Non-resident registrations cost $10 to $100.
When did D.C. legalize medical marijuana?
Voters approved Initiative 59 in 1998, but Congress blocked it. The working law took effect July 27, 2010, and the first sale was July 29, 2013.
Can I buy recreational weed in D.C.?
No. Possession is legal for adults 21+, but adult-use sales are not. Legal purchases go through the medical program.
How many dispensaries are in D.C.?
ABCA says there are more than 70 licensed physical and online retailers. Its locator lists them by ward.
Program rules as of October 27, 2026, from ABCA and the D.C. Code. Rules and fees change; check abca.dc.gov before you register or buy. General information, not legal or medical advice.
