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October 21, 2021

Yesterday, the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board announced the extension of reciprocity to medical cannabis patients from West Virginia and proposed to make the acceptance of telehealth medicine recommendations permanent. The proposed rules would need to be approved by the Council of the District of Columbia to take effect on a permanent basis. 

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The addition of West Virginia increases the number of U.S. states and territories whose medical cannabis registrations the District recognizes to 33. The full list of U.S. states and territories, including neighboring states of Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, whose medical cannabis patients are extended reciprocity is available on ABRA’s website.

Previously, the prerequisite for reciprocity being extended was for the state or territory to have a legal medical cannabis program with at least one (1) operational dispensary.  The ABC Board decided to extend reciprocity to those states that have issued medical cannabis patient cards to their residents regardless of whether a dispensary is operational in that state. The West Virginia Legislature passed the Medical Cannabis Act in April 2017 and West Virginia has been issuing medical cannabis patient cards to residents of that state.

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All DC patients and non-resident patients extended reciprocity may purchase medical cannabis in-person or for delivery or curbside pickup (as offered) from any of DC’s seven (7) licensed dispensaries including:

• Ward 1—Capital City at 1115 U Street NW

• Ward 2—Herbal Alternatives at 1710 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Third Floor

• Ward 2—National Holistic Healing Center at 1636 Connecticut Avenue NW

• Ward 4—Takoma Wellness Center at 6925 Blair Road NW

• Ward 6—Kinfolk Dispensary at 433 Massachusetts Avenue NW

• Ward 7—Cannabliss at 4721 Sheriff Road NE

• Ward 8—Anacostia Organics at 2022 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE

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Additionally, healthcare practitioners, including physicians, naturopathic physicians, physician assistants, advance practice registered nurses, and dentists, can continue on an emergency basis to issue medical cannabis recommendations to their patients following a telemedicine consultation by phone or videoconference.

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The acceptance of telehealth recommendations provides DC residents the choice of consultation type to match their needs, circumstances, and preferences and empowers healthcare practitioners to better serve their patients

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Both modifications are referenced in the Notice of Third Emergency Rulemaking.

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Patient Registration Renewals

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Medical cannabis patients whose registration expired or expires in the future between March 1, 2020 and January 31, 2022 that have obtained a new recommendation from their healthcare practitioner may purchase medical cannabis from licensed dispensaries To purchase, patients must provide:

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• A new recommendation from an eligible healthcare practitioner

• A copy of their expired registration

• Government-issued photo identification.

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Sales may only occur to a patient for up to 30-days from the date of issuance of the new recommendation from their healthcare provider. Qualifying patients are expected to apply for and obtain their renewal registration card from the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) prior to the end of the 30-day period.

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This renewal incentive program DOES NOT apply to qualifying patient applicants seeking an initial registration or to renew a registration that expired prior to March 1, 2020. 

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Additionally, ABRA is offering expedited same-day medical cannabis patient and caregiver new and renewal registrations through its Turnaround Thursday initiative.

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Every Thursday between October 14 to December 16, excluding Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Day, patients and caregivers can apply new or renew lapsed or soon-to expire registrations in-person and be issued a new digital and physical registration during their walk-in visit. Service hours are 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. ABRA’s office is located at 2000 14th Street NW, Suite 400 South, Washington, DC 20009.

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