DC Cannabis News

Original reporting and explainers from the DCWeedHub Newsroom on DC cannabis law, ABCA, licensed stores and the market.

ABCA

ABC Board, Oct. 21: New Social Equity Grow and Kitchen Licenses, a Revived Conditional License, and Enforcement Updates

DC's ABC Board approved social equity cultivation and manufacturer licenses for Besh Inc on Oct. 21 and acted on several cannabis enforcement cases.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 27, 2026 · Updated Oct 27, 2026

Latest

ABC Board, Oct. 21: New Social Equity Grow and Kitchen Licenses, a Revived Conditional License, and Enforcement Updates

DC's ABC Board approved social equity cultivation and manufacturer licenses for Besh Inc on Oct. 21 and acted on several cannabis enforcement cases.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 27, 2026 · Updated Oct 27, 2026

Policy & Legalization

Mayor Signs DC's Temporary Cannabis Licensing Act as the Emergency Version Runs Out Oct. 28

DC's Mayor signed temporary cannabis licensing act A26-0448 on Oct. 21. The emergency act ends Oct. 28; the temporary act still needs congressional review.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 26, 2026 · Updated Oct 26, 2026

DC's medical cannabis market nearly doubled in 2025, and it's still growing in 2026

DC medical cannabis sales hit $59.3M in 2025, up 81.5% on 2024. Our analysis of every ABCA monthly report since 2020: sales, patients, stores, products.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 21, 2026 · Updated Oct 21, 2026

Store Spotlight: Wishing Wellness DC — The Penn Quarter Dispensary Built Over a Historic Well

Wishing Wellness DC (ABCA-126747) at 406 5th St NW: license facts, the historic well under its floor, and the old springs of Judiciary Square.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 15, 2026 · Updated Oct 15, 2026

Policy & Legalization

DC's Emergency Cannabis Licensing Act Expires Oct. 28: What Lapses, What Replaces It, and the Gap in Between

DC's emergency cannabis licensing act (Act 26-391) ends Oct. 28, 2026. The Council passed a temporary version (B26-0760) on Sept.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 13, 2026 · Updated Oct 13, 2026

Rescheduling Is Stuck on Two Tracks. Why DC's Medical Market Is Already on the Right One

DEA filed its response Oct. 9 in the paused rescheduling hearing, and the court fight over the April Schedule III order is headed into 2027.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 13, 2026 · Updated Oct 13, 2026

National · Explainer

Federal Cannabis Rescheduling: What It Means for DC Patients (and What Doesn’t Change)

April 2026 DOJ/DEA order put FDA-approved and state-licensed medical marijuana in Schedule III. Broader rescheduling is still in process.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 13, 2026 · Updated Oct 13, 2026

Market & Data · Explainer

DC Cannabis Market Report: ABCA Data Through August 2026

ABCA data through Aug 2026: DC dispensary sales hit $59.3M in 2025 (+81.5% YoY); Jan–Aug 2026 runs 36.7% ahead.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 13, 2026 · Updated Oct 13, 2026

DC Residents Are Driving the Medical Market: Buyers Up 31% in a Year, Now 63% of Dispensary Sales

ABCA's August 2026 report shows 25,005 DC residents bought from licensed dispensaries, up 31.2% from August 2025.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 13, 2026 · Updated Oct 13, 2026

National · Explainer

DEA Opens Federal Registration for Medical Cannabis Producers: What It Means for DC's 21 Licensed Growers, Makers and Labs

On Oct. 6 DEA launched Form 225 registrations for state medical cannabis manufacturers, distributors and labs.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 13, 2026 · Updated Oct 13, 2026

Store Spotlight: Firetuned — Dupont Circle’s Safe-Use + Summer Garden Retailer

Firetuned (ABCA-128026) is an Active Dupont Circle medical retailer with Delivery, Education Tasting, Safe-Use, and Summer Garden endorsements.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 13, 2026 · Updated Oct 13, 2026

Policy & Legalization · Explainer

Why DC Still Doesn’t Have Recreational Sales: Congress’s Budget Rider Explained

DC voters legalized possession in 2014, but Congress’s annual appropriations rider still blocks recreational sales.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 13, 2026 · Updated Oct 13, 2026

Store Spotlight: Higher Ground — Ivy City's Four-Endorsement Retailer Near Union Market

Higher Ground (ABCA-129388) in Ivy City is one of only four DC retailers with Delivery, Education Tasting, Safe-Use and Summer Garden endorsements.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 13, 2026 · Updated Oct 13, 2026

Store Spotlight: Don Fuego — One of DC's Longest-Running Safe-Use Licenses, Steps From the Convention Center

Don Fuego (ABCA-126790) holds the second-oldest active Safe-Use retail license in DC. License facts, how its appointment-based lounge works, menu…

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 13, 2026 · Updated Oct 13, 2026

Store Spotlight: Cookies DC — A National Brand's Storefront on U Street, One of Ward 1's 16 Licensed Retailers

Cookies DC (ABCA-131371) is one of 16 licensed medical cannabis retailers in Ward 1. License facts, what a national brand's DC storefront means for…

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 13, 2026 · Updated Oct 13, 2026

Store Spotlight: Yemaya's Lounge — Ward 4's Only Safe-Use Retailer and DC's Northernmost Licensed Lounge

Yemaya's Lounge (ABCA-127400) in Petworth is Ward 4's only Safe-Use retailer and one of four in DC with all four retail endorsements.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 13, 2026 · Updated Oct 13, 2026

Three of 66: Mapping Licensed Cannabis Access in Wards 7 and 8

Only 3 of DC's 66 operational licensed retailers are in Wards 7 and 8, per ABCA records checked Oct. 13, 2026.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 13, 2026 · Updated Oct 13, 2026

ABCA · Explainer

ABCA-Licensed Safe-Use Lounges in DC: Who Has Them and How to Verify

Ten ABCA-licensed DC medical retailers with Active Safe-Use lounges, plus neighborhoods, license context, verification steps and public-use limits.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 12, 2026 · Updated Oct 26, 2026

ABCA · Explainer

How to Get a DC Medical Marijuana Card in 2026: ABCA's Self-Certification Guide

How DC residents get a medical marijuana card from ABCA in 2026: who qualifies, self-certifying at 21+, documents, the 90-day temporary card and renewal.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 2, 2026 · Updated Oct 2, 2026

Policy & Legalization

ABCA Cannabis Licensing: What DC's 2026 Emergency Act Changed, and What Happens Oct. 28

DC's emergency cannabis licensing act, signed July 30, lets a zoning certificate convert conditional licenses. What else it does and why Oct. 28 matters.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 2, 2026 · Updated Oct 26, 2026

ABCA's New MyABCA.DC.gov Portal: What DC Cannabis Patients Should Know

ABCA moved DC medical cannabis patient and caregiver registration to MyABCA.DC.gov on Aug. 18, 2026. What the portal does, and who should wait to use it.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 2, 2026 · Updated Oct 2, 2026

Policy & Legalization · Explainer

Can Tourists Buy Weed in DC? How Visitors Buy Legally (2026)

Yes, if you're 21+ and registered. How visitors get an ABCA non-resident registration or use a home-state medical card at licensed DC stores in 2026.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 2, 2026 · Updated Oct 2, 2026

Market & Data · Explainer

DC Cannabis Cultivators: Who Grows the District's Licensed Cannabis

Meet DC's ABCA-licensed cannabis cultivators and makers: who they are, which ward they're in, and what they grow and make, from ABCA's Oct. 2026 list.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 2, 2026 · Updated Oct 2, 2026

Policy & Legalization · Explainer

Is Weed Legal in DC? 2026 Guide to DC Cannabis Laws

Yes for adults 21+, within limits. DC's 2026 cannabis laws on possession, home grow, driving, public use, federal land and buying from licensed stores.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 2, 2026 · Updated Oct 2, 2026

Stores · Explainer

DC Cannabis License Lookup: How to Check If a Dispensary Is Licensed

How to confirm a DC dispensary or delivery service is ABCA-licensed: ABCA's retailer list, its license register, the posted license and ID checks.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 2, 2026 · Updated Oct 2, 2026

Policy & Legalization · Explainer

Where Can You Smoke Weed in DC? Public Space, Parks, Federal Land, Hotels and Lounges

Where you can and can't use cannabis in DC under DC Code and MPD rules: private property only, no public space, no federal land, and ABCA Safe-Use lounges.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 2, 2026 · Updated Oct 2, 2026

Policy & Legalization · Explainer

Can You Buy Weed in DC Without a Medical Card?

DC's licensed stores serve registered patients only. Adults 21+ can self-certify online with ABCA, then buy from a licensed store. Here's how it works.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 2, 2026 · Updated Oct 2, 2026

Market & Data · Explainer

DC Cannabis Manufacturers: Who Makes the Edibles, Extracts, Vapes and Pre-Rolls

The ABCA-licensed manufacturers making edibles, extracts, vapes and pre-rolls in DC: where they're based, what they make, and how products reach stores.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 2, 2026 · Updated Oct 26, 2026

Policy & Legalization · Explainer

Initiative 71 in DC: How the "Gifting" Shops Rose and Were Shut Down

How Initiative 71's no-sale rule led to DC's 'gifting' shops, and how ABCA and MPD padlocked more than 100 unlicensed sellers from 2024 to 2026.

By DCWeedHub Newsroom · Published Oct 2, 2026 · Updated Oct 2, 2026

From other outlets

Links to other publications. These aren't DCWeedHub reporting.

North Carolina Supreme Court Rules Cannabis Odor Alone Grants Police Probable Cause for Searches opens Marijuana Moment in a new tab
Marijuana Moment · Aug 15, 2026
New Study Reveals Marijuana Legalization Drives Significant Growth in Agricultural Jobs opens Marijuana Moment in a new tab
Marijuana Moment · Aug 14, 2026
UCSF Study Finds Inhaling Cannabis May Lower Premature Heartbeat Rates opens Ganjapreneur in a new tab
Ganjapreneur · Aug 14, 2026
California Cannabis Recall Highlights Strict Packaging and Child-Safety Regulations opens Ganjapreneur in a new tab
Ganjapreneur · Aug 14, 2026
Texas Senate Candidate Talarico Accuses Opponent Paxton of Protecting Alcohol and Tobacco Donors Through Cannabis Bans opens Marijuana Moment in a new tab
Marijuana Moment · Aug 14, 2026
Massachusetts Legalization Rollback Sparks National Alarm: What It Signals for the Cannabis Movement opens Marijuana Moment in a new tab
Marijuana Moment · Aug 14, 2026
DEA Defends Synthetic Cannabinoid Ban Amid Broader Industry Updates opens Marijuana Moment in a new tab
Marijuana Moment · Aug 14, 2026
New Study Highlights Medical Cannabis as Effective Relief for Endometriosis Pain and Opioid Reduction opens Marijuana Moment in a new tab
Marijuana Moment · Aug 13, 2026
Texas Hemp Crackdown Highlights Growing State-Level Battles Over Intoxicating Cannabinoids opens Marijuana Moment in a new tab
Marijuana Moment · Aug 13, 2026
Neighboring State Price Gaps Highlight Regional Cannabis Market Pressures opens Marijuana Moment in a new tab
Marijuana Moment · Aug 13, 2026

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