#0excludeGlossary up to one ounce of cannabis to another person, provided no money, goods, or services are exchanged. However, the sale of recreational cannabis remains prohibited due to Congressional restrictions that prevent D.C. from implementing a commercial market. Medical cannabis is legal in D.C., with a program established in 2010 and expanded significantly in recent years.
Patients can access a variety of cannabis products from licensed dispensaries, and recent legislation has extended the validity of medical cards from two to six years. Recreational users must still adhere to Initiative 71’s guidelines for gifting, and public consumption remains illegal, including on federal property such as the National Mall and public housing. Despite these regulations, D.C. has developed a “gifting” economy where businesses exchange cannabis as a gift with the purchase of non-cannabis items, such as artwork or merchandise. While this practice exists in a legal gray area, it has become a significant aspect of the District’s cannabis culture.”
