Marijuana Laws
As recorded December 15, 2025 · not verified as current law. District of Columbia law
Cannabis laws in Washington follow District of Columbia’s law. City-level policy rarely changes cannabis legality; jurisdiction law determines legal risk.
Possession and home cultivation are legal for adults 21 and older, but commercial sales are prohibited. Medical cannabis is available through registered providers. Selling is illegal, though gifting small amounts is permitted.
Quick facts
- Recreational: Legal (possession and cultivation; no retail sales)
- Medical: Available
- Possession: Up to 2 ounces legal
- Buying/Selling: Sales illegal; gifting permitted
- Tourists: Face same restrictions as residents
Practical guidance
Avoid cross-border transport of cannabis products. Do not assume informal tolerance equals legality.
Legislative History
Voters in the District of Columbia approved Initiative 71 in 2014, legalizing possession of up to 2 ounces, home cultivation of up to six plants, and gifting (but not commercial sales) for adults 21+. Medical cannabis was legalized earlier in 2010, establishing a dispensary system for registered patients.
Law Enforcement
D.C. narcotics officers were seen as more concerned with crack and heroin than with someone carrying flower. Street transactions were the ones thought most likely to bring a bust. The District has since legalized limited adult possession and home cultivation, as covered in Marijuana Laws.
Where to Buy Marijuana
Washington is a college city, with American, Catholic, GW, Georgetown, Howard and SEU in the mix and UMD and GMU nearby. Neighborhood dive bars offered another crowd. Some people considered open-air markets a lot less dangerous than their reputation and recalled a decade without trouble from District officers, while others saw patrols in those areas.
South Capitol Street and Greenleaf Terrace came up, with sellers sometimes calling out to passersby. The scene extended across the Anacostia, though Barry Farm and other parts of Southeast and Northeast had a reputation for violence and could feel intimidating to outsiders. Northwest varied by block, including the club crowds around Love and Heaven and Hell. Farther north, people expected a better chance at good flower. Knowing the area or walking with somebody who did made a difference.
Marijuana Prices
- Commercial or mediocre flower: US$25 per ⅛ oz, US$180 per oz or US$500–700 per ¼ lb
- Kind bud, usually attributed to Northern Virginia or the Maryland suburbs: US$50 per ⅛ oz or US$350–400 per oz
- White Widow and NYC Diesel were among the named strains.
More Information
This is the nation’s capital. The joke was that you were smoking right under the president’s nose.