A Washington, D.C. bill to make fundamental changes to the medical marijuana program in the nation’s capital became law on Wednesday after undergoing a congressional review period.
The measure includes reforms such as 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 also provides 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 D.C. Council passed the legislation from Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) in December, and Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) signed it in January. As is the case with all legislation passed locally in the District of Columbia, it then went before Congress for a review period during which lawmakers had the opportunity to overturn it—but the chose not to do so.
The Medical Cannabis Amendment Act further codifies that adults can self-certify as medical marijuana patients. That reform is all the more critical since congressional lawmakers passed an appropriations package that maintains a controversial rider blocking the District from implementing a system
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