On Wednesday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser signed into law the Medical Marijuana Self-Certification Emergency Amendment Act of 2022. The new law allows D.C. residents over the age of 21 to self-prescribe medical marijuana, allowing them to enter and purchase marijuana at dispensaries without the need for a doctor’s recommendation for a medical marijuana card.
D.C. residents are able to register for their patient card without cost through August 18th through the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration’s website. Residents of the district have been able to purchase marijuana throughout D.C. in “gifting” shops that allow buyers to purchase items such as tokens, small plants, and more, that come with a gift of marijuana in various forms.
Following the signing of the law, Mayor Bowser released the following statement:
“We have made it a priority over the years to build a more patient-centric medical marijuana program and this legislation builds on those efforts. We know that by bringing more medical marijuana patients into the legal marketplace in a timely manner and doing more to level the playing field for licensed medical marijuana providers, we can protect residents, support local businesses, and provide clarity to the community. I applaud the Council for moving forward this innovative solution to a complex issue, and I look forward to working with the Council and ABRA on permanent, more comprehensive medical marijuana legislation in the future.”