Is weed legal in DC? Yes, for adults 21 and older, within limits. Under DC law, adults 21+ may possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana, give up to 1 ounce to another adult without payment, and grow up to six plants at home. Selling cannabis without a license is still illegal, and so is using it in public. The only legal way to buy is as a registered medical cannabis patient at a business licensed by the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA). And because DC is a federal city, federal law, which still prohibits marijuana, applies throughout the city.
You can complete your registration before buying through our medical certification guide.
This guide covers each rule with a link to the law or agency behind it.
Is weed legal in DC? The short answer
| Question | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Can adults 21+ possess cannabis? | Yes, 2 oz or less | D.C. Code § 48-904.01; MPD |
| Can I give it to a friend? | Yes, 1 oz or less to someone 21+, with no payment | D.C. Code § 48-904.01 |
| Can I grow it? | Yes, up to 6 plants (3 or fewer mature) in your principal residence | D.C. Code § 48-904.01 |
| Can I buy it? | Yes, as a registered patient at an ABCA-licensed business | ABCA |
| Can I use it in public? | No | D.C. Code § 48-911.01 |
| Can I drive high? | No | MPD |
| Is it legal on federal land? | No. Federal law prohibits any amount | MPD |
Possession: how much weed can you carry in DC?
DC law says adults 21 and older may possess, use, purchase or transport 2 ounces or less of marijuana (D.C. Code § 48-904.01(a)(1)). MPD's guidance adds that adults may possess marijuana-related paraphernalia, such as rolling papers or bongs, associated with 1 ounce or less.
According to MPD, you can still be arrested for:
- selling any amount of marijuana to another person
- possessing more than 2 ounces
- operating a vehicle or boat under the influence
- consuming marijuana in public space
Under 21: MPD says Initiative 71 didn't change the law for people under 21, and possession is still illegal for them. If an officer sees someone under 21 with 2 ounces or less, MPD says the marijuana is seized but the person isn't arrested or ticketed. Someone under 21 with more than 2 ounces can be arrested. Separately, ABCA's medical program lets DC residents under 21 register with a practitioner's recommendation. Patients under 18 also need an adult caregiver.
Registered patients: ABCA sets a purchase limit of 8 ounces within a rolling 30-day period for registered patients, residents and non-residents alike. That's a purchase limit set by ABCA; the 2-ounce figure above is DC's personal possession limit under § 48-904.01.
Giving it away: the 1-ounce rule
Adults 21+ may transfer 1 ounce or less to another person 21 or older "without remuneration" (D.C. Code § 48-904.01(a)(1)(B)). MPD puts it plainly: no payment or exchange of goods or services.
The same section says nothing in it makes it lawful "to sell, offer for sale, or make available for sale any marijuana or cannabis plants." That line is why a "gift" bundled with a purchase was never a legal workaround (more in the history section below).
Home grow: can you grow weed in DC?
Yes, with limits. Under D.C. Code § 48-904.01(a)(1)(C)–(D), an adult 21 or older may:
- possess, grow, harvest or process no more than 6 cannabis plants, with 3 or fewer mature, flowering plants
- do so only inside a house or rental unit that is the person's principal residence
- keep the marijuana those plants produce in that residence
There's a household cap too: everyone living in a single house or rental unit may not have more than 12 plants in total, with 6 or fewer mature. Home-grown cannabis can't be sold.
Renters and employers: DC law says property owners, businesses and other entities that own or control property may prohibit or regulate marijuana possession, use and growing on that property (§ 48-904.01(a)(1E)). Check your lease before you plant anything. Employers may also restrict marijuana use by employees, and DC law doesn't require them to permit it in the workplace (§ 48-904.01(a)(1C)).
Where you can use it (and where you can't)
Private property only. MPD says adults 21+ may use marijuana on private property, subject to the owner's rules.
Public consumption is banned. D.C. Code § 48-911.01 makes it unlawful to smoke or otherwise consume marijuana:
- in or on any public space
- on a street, alley, park, sidewalk or parking area
- in a vehicle on any street, alley, park or parking area
- in any place the public is invited, which under the law includes private clubs
The law also says no one, whether on public or someone else's private property, may be impaired from consuming marijuana in a way that endangers themselves, others or property. A violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to the amount set in § 22-3571.01 or up to 60 days in jail. "Smoke" in this law also covers holding or carrying a lit joint or other lit smoking equipment.
The licensed exception: ABCA's Safe-Use Treatment Facility endorsement allows some licensed retailers to let qualifying patients and caregivers consume, in designated areas, products bought on site. Alcohol and tobacco aren't allowed in those areas. Our DC cannabis lounge explainer covers the rules.
For a practical rundown, see our guide to where you can smoke weed in DC.
Driving high in DC
MPD lists operating a vehicle or boat under the influence of marijuana among the acts that remain crimes in DC. Separately, § 48-911.01 bans consuming marijuana in a vehicle on any street, alley, park or parking area, even when it's parked.
Federal land and federal officers
This is the part visitors most often miss. MPD's guidance says: "federal law continues to prohibit the possession or use of any amount of marijuana. As a result, federal law enforcement officers may arrest anyone in the District of Columbia" for it.
That matters in DC because so much of the city is federal property, including the National Mall and memorials, many parks and federal buildings. DC's 2-ounce rule doesn't protect you from federal enforcement there. Our guide to where you can smoke weed in DC covers federal parkland in more detail.
ABCA's delivery rules reflect the same line: licensed deliveries can't go to District government or federal property, or to school grounds.
Buying legally: registration and licensed stores
DC doesn't license adult-use (recreational) sales. Every legal sale goes through ABCA's medical cannabis program:
- Register as a patient. DC residents 21+ can self-certify online through MyABCA.DC.gov or at licensed stores that offer on-site registration. Residents under 21 need a practitioner's recommendation. ABCA currently waives digital registration fees for DC residents (as of October 2, 2026, per ABCA's fee schedule). Visitors 21+ can get a temporary non-resident registration, and aBCA says licensed retailers may accept registrations from "most U.S. states, territories, and select tribal nations" on its reciprocity list; Virginia patients also need a written practitioner certification. See our card guide, visitor guide or patients page.
- Buy from an ABCA-licensed retailer or a licensed delivery-only internet retailer. ABCA says staff must check your registration and a photo ID before a sale.
- Stay within ABCA's purchase limit of 8 ounces per rolling 30 days.
Find a licensed store on our dispensary directory or map, or order from licensed delivery. Can I buy cannabis in DC today? gives the quick version.
Licensed businesses also have to source legally: ABCA's guidance says licensees must buy all cannabis and cannabis products from DC-licensed cultivation centers or manufacturers.
Initiative 71 in one paragraph, and how the gifting era ended
DC voters approved Initiative 71 in November 2014, and it took effect February 26, 2015 (MPD). It legalized limited personal possession, home grow and no-payment transfers, but not sales. For years some unlicensed shops sold cannabis as a "gift" bundled with another purchase. That era is over:
- Mar 22, 2023: the Medical Cannabis Amendment Act of 2022 became law, letting residents 21+ self-certify and creating a licensing pathway for unlicensed operators (ABCA). ABCA received 76 applications from unlicensed operators between November 1, 2023 and January 29, 2024.
- Jul 15, 2024: an emergency act gave ABCA and MPD power to summarily close and padlock unlicensed cannabis businesses (ABCA, Jul 16, 2024).
- Sep 6, 2024: ABCA announced its first closure of an illegally operating cannabis business.
- Mar 31, 2025: ABCA's deadline for unlicensed establishments, with enforcement starting April 1, 2025.
- Jan 8, 2026: ABCA announced the 100th closure and said more than 90 businesses had chosen to pursue licensing.
- Jun 15, 2026: ABCA reported 113 padlockings since the 2024 enforcement law took effect.
- Jul 30, 2026: the Mayor signed the Medical Cannabis Licensing and Unlicensed Establishment Enforcement Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2026 (D.C. Act 26-391; see our explainer on DC's 2026 emergency cannabis licensing act). ABCA announced it August 31, and it is in effect until October 28, 2026. The act defines an "unlicensed establishment" as one that sells, exchanges as part of a commercial transaction, or delivers cannabis without an ABCA license.
Today the legal market is ABCA-licensed stores and ABCA-licensed delivery. Our history of DC's gifting shops has the full story, and our license-check guide shows how to confirm a store is on ABCA's list.
FAQ
Is weed legal in DC in 2026?
For adults 21+, possession of 2 ounces or less, no-payment transfers of up to 1 ounce, and limited home grow are legal under DC law. Buying is legal only through ABCA's medical program. Federal law still prohibits marijuana.
Is recreational weed legal in DC?
Possession is, within limits. Recreational sales aren't. Licensed sales go to registered medical patients, and adults 21+ can self-certify.
How much weed can you carry in DC?
2 ounces or less if you're 21 or older (D.C. Code § 48-904.01; MPD).
Can you smoke weed in public in DC?
No. Public consumption, including in vehicles and places the public is invited, is a misdemeanor (D.C. Code § 48-911.01).
Can you grow weed in DC?
Yes. Up to 6 plants (3 or fewer mature) inside your principal residence, with a household cap of 12 (6 or fewer mature).
Is weed legal on the National Mall?
No. MPD notes that federal law prohibits any amount and that federal officers can arrest anyone in DC.
Can I bring weed into DC from another state?
Federal law prohibits marijuana, and DC law doesn't change that. Buy from a licensed DC retailer instead.
More in this topic
- Initiative 71 in DC: How the "Gifting" Shops Rose and Were Shut Down
- Why DC Still Doesn’t Have Recreational Sales: Congress’s Budget Rider Explained
- DC's Emergency Cannabis Licensing Act Expires Oct. 28: What Lapses, What Replaces It, and the Gap in Between
- ABCA Cannabis Licensing: What DC's 2026 Emergency Act Changed, and What Happens Oct. 28
- Where Can You Smoke Weed in DC? Public Space, Parks, Federal Land, Hotels and Lounges
Sources
- medical cannabis program
- federal land
- caregiver
- D.C. Code § 48-904.01: https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/48-904.01 (retrieved Oct 2, 2026)
- D.C. Code § 48-911.01: https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/48-911.01 (retrieved Oct 2, 2026)
- MPD, The Facts on DC Marijuana Laws: https://mpdc.dc.gov/marijuana (retrieved Oct 2, 2026)
- ABCA, Medical Cannabis – Patients: https://abca.dc.gov/page/medical-cannabis-patients (retrieved Oct 2, 2026)
- ABCA, Medical Cannabis Patient and Facility Fees: https://abca.dc.gov/page/medical-cannabis-business-license-and-patient-fee-schedule
- ABCA, Safe-Use Treatment Facility Endorsement: https://abca.dc.gov/page/medical-cannabis-safe-use-treatment-facility-endorsement
- ABCA, Delivery Endorsement: https://abca.dc.gov/page/medical-cannabis-delivery-endorsement
- ABCA, Unlicensed Establishment Guidance: https://abca.dc.gov/page/unlicensed-establishment-guidance
- ABCA, Unlicensed Operator Applicants: https://abca.dc.gov/publication/medical-cannabis-unlicensed-operator-applicants
- ABCA releases: Medical Cannabis Amendment Act of 2022 (Mar 31, 2023); 2024 emergency enforcement act (Jul 16, 2024); first closure (Sep 6, 2024); 100th closure (Jan 8, 2026); ABCA/MPD shutdowns (Jun 15, 2026). ABCA newsroom: https://abca.dc.gov/newsroom
- D.C. Act 26-391: https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/acts/26-391 (retrieved Oct 2, 2026)
Last updated: October 2, 2026
DCWeedHub is an independent guide to DC's ABCA-licensed cannabis market. We list ABCA-licensed businesses only and aren't affiliated with or endorsed by ABCA. This is general information, not legal or medical advice.