The Washington D.C. Council has passed the Medical Cannabis Clarification Amendment Act (Council Bill 25-581), a notable update to the District’s medical cannabis framework.
The bill, approved by the full council earlier this month, was officially presented to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s today. Mayor Bowser now faces a deadline of October 31 to either sign it into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without a signature.
The proposed law would enhance enforcement measures against unlicensed cannabis businesses. Beginning in 2024, unlicensed establishments could face escalating fines starting at $10,000 for a first violation and increasing to $30,000 for subsequent offenses. The first $100,000 in collected fines will be deposited into the Litigation Support Fund, with additional revenue directed to the Medical Cannabis Social Equity Fund. The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) is also granted new authority to issue cease-and-desist orders and close businesses that pose a threat to public safety.
The proposal would also modify the existing rule that requires medical cannabis retailers to be at least 400 feet away from schools, daycare centers, and recreation centers. The new provision allows some applicants, whose applications were filed before the bill’s effective date, to locate within 300 feet of these facilities, offering flexibility in limited cases. In addition, the bill introduces a new restriction preventing the clustering of retailers by prohibiting new stores within 400 feet of existing cannabis businesses.
The act reinforces existing product safety regulations, mandating that medical cannabis products continue to be packaged in child-resistant containers. It also maintains the ban on marketing that targets minors, such as the use of cartoon characters, celebrities, and labels that mimic popular non-cannabis products—provisions that were already in place under previous laws.
In a notable proposed change, the proposal would expand the role of testing laboratories by allowing them to test products not only from licensed manufacturers but also from qualifying patients for quality assurance, provided certain conditions are met. This proposal would enhance consumer protection by giving patients the ability to submit their cannabis products for additional testing.
Mayor Bowser has until the end of October to act on the bill. Should it pass into law, it will further refine D.C.’s medical cannabis program, strengthening enforcement measures and improving product safety.
For the full text of the bill, click here.
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