The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) registers patients and caregivers in the medical marijuana program of the District of Columbia. This agency provides digital registration IDs to those joining the DC medical cannabis program. Registered patients and caregivers can then apply for the District’s optional physical medical cannabis card.
The District of Columbia requires healthcare recommendations from patients, under the age of 21, applying to join its medical cannabis program. Adult patients, aged 21 or older, can self-certify for medical marijuana use and do not need to provide recommendations from their physicians. Minors (those aged 17 or younger) and applicants between the ages of 18 and 20 must provide healthcare recommendation numbers in their applications. These groups of patients should expect to pay for physician consultations when they schedule appointments with their healthcare providers for medical cannabis recommendations. Consultation fees vary from $100 to $300 depending on type of practice.
The ABCA waived registration fee in the DC medical cannabis program for those joining up until August 1, 2024. After this date, the cost of a new registration or registration renewal is $100. Applicants receiving Medicaid or DC Alliance qualified for a reduced fee of $25. A DC medical cannabis registration is valid for 6 years. The cost of a physical DC medical cannabis card is $10. This is also the fee for renewing or replacing the card.
The District of Columbia allows non-residents to partake in its medical cannabis program if they have medical marijuana cards from states extending reciprocity with the District. Other visitors can apply for temporary patient registration with the ABCA and get digital registry IDs valid for 3 - 365 days. By duration, the District charges the following fees for non-resident medical cannabis registrations: