Washington DC Medical Marijuana Card Renewal

How to Renew Medical Marijuana Card in Washington DC

Washington DC issues a patient registration instead of a medical marijuana card to patients with conditions that require medical marijuana treatment. Cannabis patients aged 21 years and older no longer need physicians to certify them for medical marijuana when renewing their patient registration. The Medical Cannabis Amendment Act of 2022 (MCAA), which became law in March 2023, now permits patients at least 21 years old to self-certify their renewal application in place of a physician recommendation. Patients aged 18 to 20 years still require healthcare recommendations and must include their recommendation numbers in their renewal applications.

Adult patients must fill out the Adult Patient Application Form, while minors need the Minor Application Form, to renew their medical marijuana patient registration in Washington DC. They should tick the “Renewal” box under the “Application Type” field of the form. Completed forms and the necessary documents (listed in the form) can be submitted to the Washington DC Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) via email. The subject of the email should read "Patient Application." Similarly, applicants can submit their medical cannabis patient registration renewal requests in person or via mail to the ABCA office.

For further inquiries on how to renew an expired medical marijuana card (patient registration) in Washington DC, contact the ABCA at (202) 442-4423. Typically, in-person applicants get permanent physical and digital registration documents during their visit.

Does Washington DC Allow Medical Marijuana Card Renewal Online?

Yes, the Washington DC Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Commission (ABCA) accepts and strongly recommends online applications for cannabis patient registration renewal via the Adult Patient Application Portal. Documents required for uploads are listed on the online portal, and upon submission, an applicant will receive an email confirming the receipt of their application. The ABCA will review the application, and where no document or information is missing, the applicant will receive an email with a temporary digital registration document. The temporary registration can be used to purchase medical marijuana, effective immediately for up to 30 days while the ABCA continues its review.

Once a Washington DC medical cannabis patient registration renewal is approved, the ABCA will email the applicant a permanent digital registration and mail a permanent physical registration to the patient's address. Patients can use their physical and digital registrations interchangeably at Washington DC licensed retailers facilities.

How Often Do You Have to Renew Your Medical Marijuana Card in Washington DC?

A medical cannabis patient registration in Washington DC is valid for two years and must be renewed at expiration.

Do You Need a Medical Marijuana Card Renewal Doctor in Washington DC?

Marijuana patients younger than 18 need licensed healthcare provider's recommendations to renew their medical cannabis registrations in Washington DC. On the other hand, adult patients aged 21 years and older can self-certify their cannabis patient registrations during renewal. Licensed physicians, nurse practitioners, naturopathic physicians, and physician assistants all qualify to recommend qualifying patients for medical cannabis patient registration renewal in Washington DC.

Washington DC Medical Marijuana Card Renewal Cost

Washington DC medical marijuana card renewal fee (patient registration renewal) is listed in ABCA's Medical Cannabis Patient and Facility Fee Schedule. Typically, registered patients pay a $100 fee for registration renewal. However, patients who are current Medicaid or DC Alliance beneficiaries or low-income earners may qualify for a fee reduction set at $25. DC Alliance or Medicaid recipients must provide evidence of membership to be eligible for a fee reduction. Similarly, low-income earners must submit one of the following documentation verifying their total gross income alongside their completed application:

• A copy of their worker's compensation benefit statement or Social Security
• A statement of earnings within the previous 30 days of filing their renewal application
• Proof of alimony or child support received
• Any other document the ABCA Board considers reasonable proof of the applicant's current income

Medical marijuana patients in Washington DC can pay their registration renewal fee via certified check, money order, or cashier's check made out to “DC Treasurer.” Alternatively, they can make their payments by credit card or authorized paylink.

Where to Do Medical Marijuana Card Renewal Near Me in Washington DC

In-person or mail application for a cannabis patient registration renewal in Washington DC should be submitted to the ABCA office at:

Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration

Reeves Center

2000 14th Street, NW

Suite 400 S

Washington, DC 20009

Can I Use a Medical Marijuana Card from Another State in Washington DC?

Yes. Washington DC allows non-DC residents aged 21 years or over with valid medical marijuana cards from certain states to purchase medical cannabis when visiting the state. However, they need to complete the temporary patient registration under the Non-DC Resident Medical Cannabis Patient Program by submitting the Non-DC Resident Medical Cannabis Patient Application to the ABCA. The registration costs $30 and is valid for 30 days from the date the application is submitted to the ABCA. A Non-DC cannabis patient registration is issued as a digital registration sent to the applicant's email.

As of May 2023, Washington DC has extended medical cannabis reciprocity to cannabis patients with valid medical marijuana cards issued by the following states/territories:

• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island
• South Dakota
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia

Beginning April 15, 2023, medical marijuana patients from Virginia may purchase medical marijuana and medical cannabis products from Washington DC licensed retailers using written recommendations by licensed physicians. However, such recommendations must be valid, issued on the Commonwealth of Virginia form for medical cannabis physician recommendations, and accompanied by valid Virginia-issued photo IDs. The name on such a written documentation must match those on the patient's ID.