District of Columbia Marijuana Laws: Possession Limits, Home Growing and Medical Sales in 2026

Marijuana is legal in the District of Columbia for adults 21 and older to possess and grow at home, but Washington, D.C., does not have licensed recreational marijuana stores.

Adults may possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana, grow up to six plants at their primary residence and give up to 1 ounce to another adult without receiving anything in return. The District also operates a regulated medical marijuana program with licensed retailers.

This page covers D.C. marijuana possession limits, home cultivation, medical marijuana, legal sales, taxes, delivery, public consumption and penalties. For laws in other states, visit The Marijuana Herald’s Marijuana Laws by State guide.

Last updated: September 13, 2026

District of Columbia Marijuana Laws at a Glance

Law	Current Rule
Recreational marijuana	Legal for adults 21 and older to possess and grow, but recreational sales remain illegal
Adult possession limit	Up to 2 ounces
Recreational sales	Illegal
Marijuana gifting	Up to 1 ounce to another adult without payment
Home cultivation	Up to 6 plants per adult, with no more than 3 mature
Household cultivation limit	Up to 12 plants, with no more than 6 mature
Medical marijuana	Legal
Medical marijuana sales	Legal through licensed retailers
Medical possession limit	Up to 8 ounces of dried medical marijuana
Medical purchase limit	Up to 8 ounces during a rolling 30-day period
Public consumption	Illegal
Medical marijuana delivery	Legal
Medical marijuana tax	6%
Federal property	Marijuana remains illegal under federal law
Minimum recreational age	21

Is Recreational Marijuana Legal in Washington, D.C.?

Yes, but D.C.’s recreational marijuana law works differently from legalization laws in most states.

Initiative 71, approved by voters in November 2014 and effective in February 2015, legalized possession and limited home cultivation for adults 21 and older.

Adults may legally possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana, grow marijuana at home and give limited amounts to other adults.

However, Initiative 71 did not establish licensed recreational marijuana stores.

How Much Marijuana Can You Possess in Washington, D.C.?

Adults 21 and older may possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana under District law.

Adults who legally grow marijuana at home may also possess the marijuana produced by those plants at the residence where the plants were grown.

Registered medical marijuana patients are subject to separate rules and may possess up to 8 ounces of dried medical marijuana.

Can You Buy Recreational Marijuana in Washington, D.C.?

No. Washington, D.C., does not have licensed recreational marijuana stores.

Although adult possession is legal, recreational marijuana sales remain prohibited. Federal appropriations restrictions have prevented the District from establishing a regulated adult-use retail market similar to those operating in neighboring Maryland and other legal marijuana jurisdictions.

Selling marijuana without authorization remains illegal.

Businesses also cannot legally disguise a marijuana sale as a “gift” by requiring someone to purchase another product or service in exchange for marijuana.

Legal commercial marijuana sales in D.C. take place through the licensed medical marijuana system.

Can You Grow Marijuana at Home in Washington, D.C.?

Yes. Adults 21 and older may grow marijuana at their primary residence.

Each adult may grow up to:

Six marijuana plants total
No more than three mature, flowering plants

When two or more adults live at the same residence, the household may have no more than 12 marijuana plants total, including no more than six mature, flowering plants.

Plants must be grown inside the person’s house or rental unit that serves as their principal residence.

Adults may also possess at that residence the marijuana produced by their legally grown plants.

Is Medical Marijuana Legal in Washington, D.C.?

Yes. Washington, D.C., operates a comprehensive medical marijuana program overseen by the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA).

Registered patients may purchase marijuana and marijuana products from licensed medical marijuana retailers.

Adults 21 and older may self-certify that they will use marijuana for medical purposes rather than obtaining a recommendation from a health care practitioner.

Patients ages 18 through 20 generally need a recommendation from an authorized practitioner.

Medical registration provides several significant benefits. Registered patients may legally purchase marijuana from licensed retailers, use authorized delivery services and possess up to 8 ounces of dried medical marijuana, compared with the 2-ounce general adult possession limit.

What Conditions Qualify for Medical Marijuana in Washington, D.C.?

D.C. does not use a narrow list of specifically approved medical conditions.

Medical marijuana may be used for a qualifying medical or dental condition or for side effects associated with treatment of a qualifying medical or dental condition.

Adults 21 and older may self-certify when registering with the medical marijuana program.

How Much Medical Marijuana Can Patients Buy in D.C.?

Registered patients may purchase up to 8 ounces of medical marijuana during a rolling 30-day period.

D.C. law also limits a patient or caregiver to possessing no more than 8 ounces of dried medical marijuana at one time.

Separate equivalent limits apply to concentrates and other forms of medical marijuana.

Can Tourists Buy Marijuana in Washington, D.C.?

Tourists cannot purchase recreational marijuana because D.C. does not have licensed recreational marijuana stores.

However, adults visiting the District may be able to purchase medical marijuana.

D.C. recognizes medical marijuana registrations from many other states, territories and tribal jurisdictions through reciprocity.

Nonresidents age 21 and older may also apply for temporary D.C. medical marijuana registration. Nonresident registrations are available for several different periods, ranging from 30 days to one year.

Marijuana purchased in Washington, D.C., cannot legally be transported across state lines.

Where Can You Use Marijuana in Washington, D.C.?

Marijuana generally may be consumed on private property where the property owner allows it.

Public marijuana consumption remains illegal. This includes streets, sidewalks, alleys, parks, parking areas and other places open to the public.

Property owners and landlords may also restrict marijuana consumption on their property.

Medical marijuana patients have additional authorized consumption options under the medical program, including certain licensed safe-use treatment facilities.

Is Marijuana Legal on Federal Property in Washington, D.C.?

No.

This is particularly important in Washington, D.C., because a large amount of land in the District is controlled by the federal government.

D.C.’s marijuana legalization law does not apply on federal property. Possession or use can therefore remain illegal at locations such as the National Mall, federal buildings and federally controlled parks even though possession of the same amount would be legal under District law elsewhere.

Can You Drive With Marijuana in Washington, D.C.?

Adults may transport up to 2 ounces of marijuana within the District under local law.

However, driving while impaired by marijuana remains illegal.

Marijuana cannot legally be consumed while driving, and Initiative 71 does not provide protection for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana.

Marijuana also cannot legally be transported across state lines.

Can You Give Marijuana to Someone Else in Washington, D.C.?

Yes.

An adult 21 or older may give up to 1 ounce of marijuana to another adult who is at least 21.

The transfer must be a genuine gift. The person providing the marijuana cannot receive money, goods, services or anything else of value in return.

This is why D.C.’s marijuana gifting law does not legalize businesses that sell unrelated products and include marijuana as a supposed “free” gift.

Is Marijuana Delivery Legal in Washington, D.C.?

Medical marijuana delivery is legal.

Licensed medical marijuana retailers with the appropriate authorization may deliver products to registered patients and caregivers at qualifying addresses within the District.

D.C. also licenses internet retailers that sell medical marijuana online or through mobile applications for delivery.

Deliveries cannot be made outside D.C. or to federal or District government property and are subject to additional location restrictions.

Recreational marijuana delivery remains illegal.

How Is Marijuana Taxed in Washington, D.C.?

Medical marijuana sales are subject to a 6% sales tax.

D.C. does not impose a recreational marijuana tax because recreational retail sales remain illegal.

Patients therefore pay the 6% medical marijuana sales tax when purchasing from licensed medical marijuana retailers.

Are THCA, Delta-8 and Hemp-Derived THC Legal in Washington, D.C.?

D.C. does not provide a broad legal retail market for intoxicating hemp-derived THC products outside its regulated marijuana system.

District controlled-substance laws specifically address delta-8 THC and other THC-related substances, and regulators have authority to take action against unlicensed businesses selling products represented as containing marijuana or THC.

Consumers should not assume that THCA flower, delta-8 products or other intoxicating hemp-derived THC products are legal simply because they are marketed as hemp or sold outside a licensed medical marijuana retailer.

What Are the Penalties for Illegal Marijuana Possession in Washington, D.C.?

Adults 21 and older who possess 2 ounces or less of marijuana in circumstances protected by District law generally face no criminal penalty.

Possession outside those protections can be prosecuted under D.C.’s controlled-substances laws.

Simple unlawful possession is generally a misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

Public marijuana consumption is separately prohibited and can result in criminal penalties.

Selling marijuana without authorization or possessing marijuana with intent to distribute can carry more serious consequences.

D.C.’s local marijuana protections also do not apply on federal property.

What Changed in D.C. Marijuana Law in 2026?

D.C.’s basic recreational marijuana possession and home cultivation limits did not change in 2026, but the District continued making changes to its medical marijuana system and enforcement framework.

In July 2026, D.C. enacted emergency legislation affecting medical marijuana business licensing and enforcement against unlicensed establishments. Among other changes, certain conditional medical marijuana business licenses were extended to three years.

ABCA also moved medical marijuana patient registrations to a new online customer portal in August 2026.

The District has continued enforcement against businesses selling marijuana without authorization while expanding its regulated medical marijuana marketplace.

Despite local support for a regulated recreational market, D.C. still does not have licensed recreational marijuana stores.

Related Marijuana Laws and Protections

Residents should also be aware that legalization does not eliminate restrictions on impaired driving or guarantee workplace protections. See our guides to marijuana DUI laws by state and marijuana employment laws for a broader look at how Illinois compares with other states.

People with past marijuana convictions may also qualify for record-clearing relief. Our Marijuana Expungement Laws by State guide explains how all 50 states handle expungement and related relief.