D.C. Councilmember Phil Mendelson, at the request of Mayor Muriel Bowser, has introduced legislation to double the lifespan of conditional licenses for medical cannabis businesses, as well as retroactively reinstate those that have already expired.
The measure, filed yesterday as Council Bill 260344, comes as dozens of applicants work to convert their conditional licenses into permanent approvals while facing obstacles such as raising capital, securing facilities, and completing build-outs. Under current law, these conditional licenses expire after two years. Mendelson’s bill would extend them to four years, giving licensees more time to establish operations and remain in the legal market.
The legislation applies to medical cannabis cultivation centers, retailers, internet retailers, manufacturers, couriers, and testing laboratories. A companion emergency resolution highlights the strain on the regulated industry following enforcement actions against the unlicensed market. As of September 10, the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) and Metropolitan Police Department had shut down 71 unlicensed operators. That enforcement contributed to record medical cannabis sales, topping $5.4 million in April 2025.
Licensed operations have expanded rapidly, growing from seven retailers at the start of 2024 to 64 by September 2025. Still, ABCA says more cultivation and product supply are needed to meet patient demand. More than 50 applicants currently hold conditional cultivation licenses, many of which have begun to expire. Mendelson’s legislation would retroactively reinstate expired licenses as of June 28, 2025, ensuring no businesses are excluded.
If approved, the Medical Cannabis Conditional Licensure Extension Amendment Act of 2025 would provide additional stability for new businesses and strengthen the District’s regulated medical cannabis system as it continues to expand.
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