Congress allows Washington DC medical cannabis reforms to become law

March 24, 2023 · MJ Biz Daily

Medical cannabis is expected to be much more easily and widely available in Washington DC after a set of reforms that include lifting a cap on dispensaries and allowing patients to “self-certify” became law this week.

Congress had until March 22 to interfere with the Medical Cannabis Amendment Act signed into by Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser in January, but the federal lawmakers took no action, according to NORML.

In addition to allowing residents to “self-certify” as medical-cannabis patients, which some observers say amounts to a de facto adult-use market, the new law:

  • Eliminates a cap on the number of dispensaries allowed in the district.
  • Temporarily lifts plant limit for licensed cultivators.
  • Allows for delivery services and consumption lounges.
  • Extends limited tax relief to operators.

“Despite being under the thumb of Congressional lawmakers, members of the DC City government continue to prioritize policies that both advance and protect the freedoms of responsible cannabis consumers,” Paul Armentano, NORML’s deputy director, said in a statement.

Separately, the DC City Council passed an expungement law that’s supposed to clear records of certain low-level convictions by Jan. 1, 2025.

Voters in the nation’s capital legalized adult-use cannabis in 2014, but the only legal access to marijuana is via MMJ dispensaries.

Past efforts to regulate adult-use retail have been blocked by Congress, which has veto power over local laws under the district’s Home Rule Act.

In the interim, illicit cannabis sales have flourished.

Meanwhile, D.C. dispensaries and cultivation centers reported $4.7 million in monthly sales in February 2023. (Full Story)

In categories:Federal Policy Politics
Next Post

Oregon Company Defends Federal Lawsuit Challenging The State’s Ban On Cannabis Exports

An Oregon marijuana business challenging the state’s ban on interstate cannabis commerce asked a federal judge last week to allow the case to be heard in court, arguing that the company has a “right to operate its business—federally legal or…
Read
Previous Post

Bipartisan Senators File Bill To Ease Restrictions On Industrial Hemp Farmers

A bipartisan pair of U.S. senators have filed a bill to reduce regulations on farmers that grow industrial hemp for non-extraction purposes. Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced the Industrial Hemp Act on Thursday—the latest piece of…
Read
Random Post

Can Tilray successfully synergize its cannabis, alcohol businesses?

With its right hand, Tilray Brands has consolidated a swath of the Canadian cannabis market, most recently buying Hexo Corp. in its quest to grow market share. With its left hand, Tilray has gone on a beverage alcohol acquisition bender in the…
Read
Random Post

Curaleaf Lays Off Hundreds of Workers Amid Slowdown

Cannabis giant Curaleaf Holdings Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) laid off around 220 of its employees ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, Business Insider first reported. In a statement to the outlet, Curaleaf declined to say which department the cuts occurred within, though said…
Read
Random Post

Green Thumb CEO Ben Kovler explains why his marijuana MSO is in the black

When Ben Kovler can’t sleep, it’s a sign that something’s wrong. In 2015, for example, after the Chicago-based marijuana multistate operator won three of the 20 medical cannabis cultivation licenses up for grabs in Illinois, the founder and CEO of…
Read
Random Post

These are Michigan's largest marijuana dispensaries by retail location

Michigan’s marijuana industry is among the most competitive industry in the state. With basement-low wholesale prices, the industry is becoming increasingly more vertically-integrated. The most profitable way to do business in weed is for growers to be sellers, realizing margins…
Read