It has been over 6 years since Initiative 71 was passed in Washington DC. Still, the status of marijuana in the district is contentious.
Initiative 71 allowed possession of marijuana but still didn’t legalize the sale of it.
Apart from this, a majority of land in the district belongs to federal agencies. Since marijuana is still not legal under federal laws, possession and consumption of marijuana in the district can still land you up in jail.
In such confusions, it is pretty obvious for people to ask, “if weed is legal in DC?”
Well, as you may guess, the answer isn’t as simple and straightforward.
Legalities Around Marijuana in DC
A short answer to the question at hand could be “YES,” considering Initiative 71 is active in the district. However, as already mentioned, it is not as simple as that.
Generally speaking, 21 years or older adults can possess up to an ounce of marijuana. Further, the district laws allow users to possess 16 ounces of solid infused edibles, 72 ounces of infused liquid products, and 7 grams of concentrates.
Besides, since Farm Bill was passed, any product derived from hemp is already legal under federal laws. So, if you possess hemp or its derived products, you need not worry.
Now, coming to the sale part, which is the most critical question in this context – you can only buy weed dc from a licensed dispensary.
Yes, you read that right. In DC, Initiative 71 does not allow selling marijuana products. However, it has a provision for licensed dispensaries to sell it in a controlled way (possession obligations are still in place.)
Consumption of Marijuana in DC
By now, you can pretty much come to believe that you can consume marijuana in Washington DC. And, you are partly correct too.
However, there’s a catch here – the district has legalized consuming marijuana on private properties only.
Meaning, you can’t smoke or consume edibles in public places such as a theatre or a park.
Besides, you can’t even consume it on private property without the consent of the owner or the tenant.
On top of it, the majority of land in the district is under federal governance. So, it is pretty much a death trap to consume marijuana when you’re on federal property.
In short, you’re left with limited space options to consume your weed, which is mostly your home.
Cultivation and Giving Away Marijuana in DC
Lastly, you cannot grow marijuana at your home unless you are growing hemp.
In other words, if you consume marijuana for recreational purposes, you cannot grow your weed at home.
However, giving someone marijuana as a gift is altogether another story. Although selling marijuana without a legit license is illegal in the district, gifting it to somebody is not.
Perhaps, that is why most people in Washington DC often receive marijuana as a gift along with their other purchases.
The Bottomline
It is pretty much legal to possess and consume weed in DC, as long as you prefer to stay off the federal radar and follow other guidelines.
