Related: <a title="Can You Fly With Cannabis Or A Vape Pen?" href="https://weedzly.com/library/can-you-fly-with-cannabis-or-a-vape-pen">Can You Fly With Cannabis Or A Vape Pen?</a>
Recreational cannabis laws in Washington D.C. can be confusing for anyone who simply wants a straightforward way to buy weed. Since 2015, it's been legal for anyone age 21 or older to possess up to two ounces of marijuana. D.C. residents can use and also grow marijuana on private property. But the catch is, you can give someone weed, as long as it's not in exchange for money, goods, or services.
Essentially, you can possess and grow cannabis, but you can't legally sell it for recreational use. But, that hasn't stopped clever entrepreneurs from finding workarounds. In fact, our nation's capital has thriving, underground &ldquo;dispensaries&rdquo; operating in a legal gray zone.
<img title="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1673892901/articles/ml5oa4ta0mrc63uv3w2a.jpg" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1673892901/articles/ml5oa4ta0mrc63uv3w2a.jpg" alt="USA Weed" width="526" height="296" />
<h2 id="0">Medical Marijuana Dispensaries</h2>
<a href="https://weedzly.com/library/pharmacy-medicines-made-with-cannabis">Medical marijuana</a> was legalized in Washington D.C. In 1998. But, since marijuana remained illegal on the federal level, Congress managed to block the opening of medical marijuana dispensaries for several years. The first medical purchase in D.C. did not occur until 2013, only one year before the legalization of recreational cannabis.
Perhaps bureaucratic red tape just comes with the territory, but D.C. residents need to jump a few hurdles to get a card. First, patients need a recommendation from a licensed medical marijuana doctor. Once they have that, they must fill out an application and present two forms of DC identification. Finally, they'll need to wait at least 30 days for the D.C. Department of Health to process their application, and pay a $100 processing fee.
A handful of <a href="https://weedzly.com/library/states-that-have-recently-legalized-cannabis">licensed medical marijuana dispensaries</a> operate within the city. You'll need a <a href="https://weedzly.com/library/how-to-qualify-for-a-medical-marijuana-card-in-louisiana">medical marijuana card</a> to purchase at these dispensaries. You'll also need to be at least 21 years old.
Washington D.C. law allows out-of-town visitors to purchase medical marijuana, as long as they have a valid card from their home state. If you plan to buy medical marijuana while visiting Washington D.C., you'll need to bring your state-issued photo ID, medical marijuana card, and your doctor's name and medical license number. Be prepared to present these before they let you in the door.
<h3 id="1">Recreational Weed</h3>
While medical marijuana laws and procedures are similar to other places, the realm of recreational weed is not.
Residents over the age of 21 can grow up to six marijuana plants, comprised of three mature and three plants. They can also possess up to two ounces of marijuana, and give away up to one ounce of weed. But, they can't sell it or trade it for goods and services. That can make buying recreational weed complicated in Washington D.C.
<img title="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1673892978/articles/vbpdevvkmqxwzq5lms3c.png" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1673892978/articles/vbpdevvkmqxwzq5lms3c.png" alt="Washington weed" width="640" height="318" />
<h3 id="2">&ldquo;Gifting&rdquo; Businesses</h3>
However, &ldquo;Initiative 71&rdquo;, which laid out the rules for cannabis in D.C., hasn't stopped entrepreneurs from &ldquo;selling&rdquo; weed anyway; usually, this is done by selling one thing, and &ldquo;gifting&rdquo; weed along with it.
For example, there is a gym that allows customers to select a &ldquo;free weed gift' when they purchase a workout plan. The workout plan is a printed sheet of paper, but the smokable or edible cannabis is real. Also, selling &ldquo;memberships&rdquo; is also popular. Other unofficial District of Columbia Initiative 71 &ldquo;dispensaries&rdquo; sell real goods like teeshirts, art prints or paraphernalia with a gift of free weed.
Marijuana gifting businesses also stage &ldquo;pop-up&rdquo; events, hosted at bars, restaurants, or someone's house. These are usually promoted on social media by the vendors. These posts are often not public, so attendees must send a direct message to find out the location.
Another thing that makes D.C. different is that many of the District of Columbia Initiative 71 compliant businesses only deliver. They do not operate a storefront, they only take orders over the internet or phone. With that said, it's often impossible to figure out what they are &ldquo;selling&rdquo;, since the only items featured on the site are cannabis &ldquo;gifts&rdquo;. Another unclear thing is where these businesses get their weed since residents can only grow three mature plants at a time.
If you are visiting Washington D.C. and want to get high, it won't be as simple buying weed elsewhere. You can't simply walk into a dispensary, show your ID and choose your cannabis.
<h3 id="3">&ldquo;Gifting&rdquo; Businesses Operate in a Gray Zone</h3>
There is friction between legal, licensed medical marijuana dispensaries and these gifting businesses. Sometimes, community members and legal medical dispensaries make complaints about gifting businesses. The Metropolitan Police Department maintains that gifting businesses are illegal and go through spurts of enforcing the law by raiding gifting businesses and arresting the proprietors.
Recently, the city council considered measures to increase enforcement of these &ldquo;gray market&rdquo; gifting operations. While legal, medical dispensaries pay steep licensing fees and taxes, that is not true of gifting businesses; they are not only operating in a legal gray zone, they are also not paying the city special licensing fees or taxes.
City Council Chairman Phil Mendelson&nbsp;<a href="https://dcist.com/story/21/10/29/dc-council-bill-would-shut-down-marijuana-gifting-shops-and-delivery-services/">presented a bill</a>&nbsp;that would give city agencies the power to revoke business licenses and lock the proprietors out of their businesses. The bill also sets fines for businesses engaged in selling, exchanging, or purchasing marijuana.
Soon, buying a membership, workout plan, or a tee-shirt to receive a gift of weed may be a thing of the past.
<img title="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1673893010/articles/g77rvsdgin0m0svx2bpg.png" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1673893010/articles/g77rvsdgin0m0svx2bpg.png" alt="Judge weed" width="669" height="371" />
<h3 id="4">Recreational Weed in Maryland and Virginia</h3>
The District of Columbia is bordered by the states of Maryland and Virginia. Alexandria, Virginia, and Annapolis, Maryland are suburbs of Washington D.C.
Unfortunately, recreational weed is illegal in Maryland. However, recreational marijuana was legalized in Virginia in July 2021. But, as of this writing, recreational dispensaries have not yet opened in the state. However, recreational marijuana might be available soon in the Virginia suburbs of D.C.
If the city council manages to shut down gifting businesses in Washington D.C., a visit to a nearby Virginia recreational dispensary could be an option, once they open.
Needless to say, the recreational cannabis situation in our nation's capital is complicated. While you can have weed delivered to your door, along with a tee-shirt, that could change soon. Right now, it looks like the city council is moving to shut that down.
However, you can get medical marijuana, use recreational weed, and grow cannabis in Washington D.C. If you live there, growing your own might be the best option. But, buying recreational cannabis will likely remain illegal.