The Washington, D.C. Council has unanimously passed a bill to make sweeping changes to the medical marijuana program in the nation’s capital. That includes eliminating cannabis business licensing caps, providing tax relief to operators, further promoting social equity and creating new regulated business categories such as on-site consumption facilities and cannabis cooking classes.
It would also provide a pathway for current “gifting” operators that sell non-cannabis items in exchange for “free” marijuana products to enter the licensed market, while empowering officials to crack down on those who continue to operate illegally.
The Council first approved a multi-part amendment from the sponsor, Chairman Phil Mendelson (D), before passing the legislation in a 13-0 vote on Tuesday. This comes about two weeks after the full Council approved an earlier version in a first reading. The bill now heads to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) desk for her signature.
The Medical Cannabis Amendment Act would also codify that adults can self-certify as medical marijuana patients. That reform is all the more critical now that congressional lawmakers have released a final appropriations package that maintains a controversial rider blocking the District from implementing a system of regulated, adult-use cannabis commerce, despite the House and Senate
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