To get a Washington, D.C. medical marijuana card, adults 21 and older register online with the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA), self-certify that they are using cannabis for medical purposes, and receive a temporary digital card the same day. Digital registration fees are currently waived, and the card lets you buy lab-tested products from any licensed dispensary in the District.1D.C. Law Library. District of Columbia Code 7-1671.05 – Medical Cannabis Program
The medical route matters because Initiative 71 legalized possession but never created legal recreational sales. There are no recreational dispensaries in D.C.2Metropolitan Police Department. The Facts on DC Marijuana Laws If you want to buy regulated, tested cannabis rather than navigate the gray market, the card is the direct path.
Who Qualifies
The Medical Cannabis Amendment Act of 2022 removed the doctor requirement for most adults. If you are 21 or older, you no longer need a diagnosis, a qualifying condition, or a healthcare provider’s recommendation. You check a box on the application stating you intend to use cannabis for medical purposes, and that is the clinical step.3D.C. Law Library. D.C. Law 24-332 – Medical Cannabis Amendment Act of 2022
Patients between 18 and 20 still need a signed, written recommendation from a licensed healthcare provider, dated within the last two years. Self-certification does not apply at that age.
For patients under 18, a parent or legal guardian must register as a caregiver with ABCA. The caregiver handles all dispensary purchases and oversees use of the medication. Caregivers must be at least 18 and cannot work at a dispensary or cultivation center.4Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration. Medical Cannabis – Caregivers
What You Need to Apply
Before starting the online application, pull together:
- A government-issued photo ID showing your name, photo, and date of birth
- Two proofs of D.C. residency, such as utility bills, a lease, or a voter registration card
- A healthcare provider’s written recommendation if you are under 21
Applications are submitted through the ABCA online portal. You upload your ID and residency documents, enter your information, and self-certify if you are 21 or older.5Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Administration. Medical Cannabis Program DC Resident Adult Patient Application
ABCA issues a temporary digital registration immediately after submission. That temporary card is valid for up to 90 days and lets you start shopping right away while the full application is reviewed.6Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration. Medical Cannabis – Patients Once approved, you receive a permanent digital card by email. A physical card is optional and costs $10 to mail.
What It Costs
Digital registration fees for D.C. resident patients and caregivers are currently waived. The published schedule lists $100 for a two-year registration, with a reduced $25 rate for lower-income applicants, but as of the most recent ABCA update both fees are waived for digital registrations. The only out-of-pocket cost is the $10 physical card fee if you want one.7Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration. Medical Cannabis Patient and Facility Fees
If fees return, the reduced $25 rate is available to Medicaid recipients, DC Alliance members, and anyone whose gross income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
Visitors and Non-Residents
You do not need to live in D.C. to use the medical program. ABCA extends reciprocity to patients holding a valid medical cannabis registration from 38 U.S. states and territories, including Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. If your home card is valid, you can walk into a D.C. dispensary and buy without any extra paperwork.8Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration. Non-DC Resident Medical Cannabis Program Access
Visitors from states without reciprocity, including international travelers, can register for a temporary non-resident card. You must be at least 21. Five durations are offered, each with its own fee:7Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration. Medical Cannabis Patient and Facility Fees
- 3 days: $10
- 30 days: $20
- 90 days: $50
- 180 days: $75
- 365 days: $100
Non-residents self-certify medical intent the same way D.C. residents do. ABCA emails a digital card after payment is processed.9Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration. Patients – Non-DC Residents
What the Card Lets You Do
A registered patient may possess up to eight ounces of dried medical cannabis at a time, four times the two-ounce cap that applies to recreational users under Initiative 71.10D.C. Law Library. District of Columbia Code 7-1671.03 – Restrictions on Use of Medical Cannabis All purchases happen at ABCA-licensed dispensaries, which track transactions to help you stay within the limit. Caregivers may purchase up to eight ounces in any 30-day period on a patient’s behalf.
You can consume medical cannabis at your own home, at someone else’s residence with their permission, at a licensed safe-use facility, or at a medical treatment facility that allows it. Schools may permit non-smokable forms for enrolled patients when the right policy is in place.
The card does not cover public use. Consuming cannabis in public space is a misdemeanor regardless of your patient status, and that includes sidewalks, parks, and the National Mall. A conviction carries a fine and up to 60 days in jail, though most cases are handled by citation rather than arrest.11D.C. Law Library. District of Columbia Code 48-911.01 – Consumption of Marijuana in Public Space Prohibited
Workplace Protections for Patients
D.C.’s Cannabis Employment Protections Amendment Act of 2022, in effect since July 2023, is one reason the card is worth having even for adults who could otherwise rely on Initiative 71. Employers in the District cannot refuse to hire, fire, suspend, demote, or otherwise penalize you for using cannabis, for being a registered medical patient, or for a drug test that shows cannabinoid metabolites.12D.C. Law Library. D.C. Law 24-190 – Cannabis Employment Protections Amendment Act of 2022
A positive test alone is not grounds for adverse action. The employer must show actual on-the-job impairment, meaning observable symptoms that substantially affect your work or create a safety concern. Metabolites can linger for weeks after any impairing effect has worn off, and D.C. does not let a stale test stand in for proof of current impairment.
The law carves out exceptions. Employers can still act against you if the position is safety-sensitive (operating heavy machinery, armed security, construction, and similar roles), if federal contracts or regulations prohibit cannabis use for the job, or if you actually used, possessed, or were impaired at work.
Violations can be filed with the D.C. Office of Human Rights. Penalties range from $1,000 per violation for employers with 1 to 30 employees up to $5,000 per violation for companies with 100 or more employees, and they double for repeat offenses within a year. Half of each penalty goes to the affected employee.
Sales Tax at the Dispensary
Medical cannabis purchases are subject to a 6% sales tax at checkout. The tax applies to cannabis products but not to paraphernalia such as pipes or vaporizer devices.13Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration. Medical Cannabis Sales Tax Holiday ABCA has occasionally run sales tax holidays that waive the charge, so it is worth checking with your dispensary or the ABCA website before a large purchase.