Washington, D.C. Cannabis Laws 2026: Legal to Have, Only Medical Stores Can Sell

D.C. voters approved Initiative 71 in November 2014, and it took effect in February 2015. But a rider Congress attaches to the District's budget every year blocks D.C. from setting up legal recreational sales. Medical cannabis has been legal since 2010. The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) regulates the medical market.

Is weed legal in D.C.?

Yes, to have, grow and share, for adults 21 and older. But buying recreational cannabis is not legal. The legal way to buy is as a medical patient, and in D.C., that's easy (see below).

How much can you have?

Limit	Adults 21+
Possession	Up to 2 ounces
Gifts	Up to 1 ounce to another adult, with nothing in return

Having more than 2 ounces is a misdemeanor.

Where can you use it?

Only on private property, with the owner's permission. Public use is illegal, and that includes federal land, which is a lot of D.C.: the National Mall, monuments, and national parks. Federal law applies there, and U.S. Park Police can arrest you for any amount. Landlords can ban smoking.

Can you grow cannabis at home?

Yes. Adults 21+ can grow up to 6 plants, with no more than 3 mature, inside their home, with a limit of 12 plants per household.

Medical cannabis and self-certification

D.C. lets adults 21 and older self-certify as medical patients, with no doctor's visit:

• D.C. residents can apply online and buy right away with a temporary digital registration while the application is processed.
• Visitors can get a temporary patient registration online, or use a medical card from a state D.C. recognizes.

Patients can then buy at licensed medical retailers. Check that a store is licensed by ABCA before you buy.

Unlicensed "gifting" shops

For years, unlicensed shops sold overpriced items and "gifted" cannabis with the purchase. That's illegal. Since a 2024 law gave ABCA the power to padlock them, the city has closed more than 100 unlicensed shops, and the crackdown continued in 2026.

Driving and work

Driving impaired is illegal. Employers in D.C. generally can't fire or refuse to hire someone for off-duty cannabis use, though safety-sensitive and federal jobs are exempt.

Is anything changing in 2026?

The congressional rider blocking recreational sales remains in place, and enforcement against unlicensed shops continues.

Federal law in 2026

Federal law still treats recreational cannabis as illegal. In April 2026, the federal government moved marijuana sold under a state medical license (and FDA-approved cannabis medicines) to Schedule III, but adult-use cannabis is still Schedule I. That means it's still banned on federal land and can't legally cross state lines, even between two legal states.

Separately, a federal ban on intoxicating hemp products takes effect in two steps: synthetic and converted cannabinoids like delta-8 lose their legal status on November 12, 2026, and naturally derived hemp THC (THCA flower, hemp delta-9 edibles and drinks) on December 11, 2026.

Where to buy legally

Browse dispensaries in D.C. in our directory, including Washington. Make sure a store is an ABCA-licensed medical retailer before you buy.

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Last reviewed October 8, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so check the official sources below before you rely on any detail.