Washington D.C. Council Unanimously Passes Ordinance to Increase Medical Cannabis Dispensaries
Washington D.C.’s full Council has voted to increase the number of medical cannabis dispensaries operating within the district.
Bill 22-0138 was given approval with a 12 to 0 vote, sending it to Mayor Muriel Bowser for consideration. Mayor Bowser is expected to quickly sign it into law; she has until March 27th to do so (or veto it), at which point it would take effect without her signature.
According to the proposed law; “The Mayor shall open an application period for the registration of a dispensary in Ward 7 or Ward 8 within 60 days after the effective date of the Medical Marijuana Dispensary Emergency Amendment Act”.
In other words this would increase the number of dispensaries in the district from five, to six. This is a relatively small change, but the additional outlet will go a long way towards offering patients in the district greater access to their medicine.
In D.C. cannabis is also legal for recreational use, with those 21 and older allowed to possess up to two ounces and grow a few plants at home. However, cannabis retail outlets aren’t currently allowed and dispensaries are accessible only by qualified patients with a physician recommendation who have registered with the district.
