Dutchie does not provide compliance advice. Merchants are responsible for their own compliance. External Dutchie compliance documentation may be updated from time to time and has been prepared for informational purposes only, is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or compliance advice. Merchants should consult their own tax, legal and compliance advisors to determine how best to operate within the cannabis industry.
In Washington D.C. cannabis sales are for medical patients. While ‘Gifting’ operations are allowed within the District of Columbia, which allow for the transfer of cannabis with the purchase of another non-cannabis item, only Medical cannabis sales are regulated in this market.
Washington D.C. uses METRC as a seed-to-sale traceability provider. In Washington D.C. sales are reported to METRC for both local medical patients (who have registered with the D.C. medical cannabis program) as well as out-of-state medical patients from a reciprocal state who are making a medical cannabis purchase.
Washington D.C. rules mention ‘Equivalent’ values in their rules, however cannabis product equivalencies are never explicitly defined.
Cannabis specific taxes are not outlined for the D.C. medical cannabis program.
Medical Cannabis purchases are subject to local sales tax.
Maximum amount of inventory for delivery
ABCA does not define specific inventory maximums, however any delivery vehicle may not carry more than $5000 cash at one time.
A delivery driver may deliver to multiple locations in a single dispatch, however a driver may not make more than 10 deliveries in a single dispatch.
All vehicles must have GPS.
Delivery hours are limited to 9am - 9pm
At retailer discretion, patients may be required to pay electronically.
Currently any adult may ‘self-certify’ as a valid medical patient in Washington D.C. Self Certification can be done online via the ABCA website, and requires a registration fee. Once an adult has self certified, they receive an electronic patient registration card from ABCA.
ABCA Medical Cannabis Laws and Regulations->
Beginning in August 2023, licensing applications open for cannabis retailers who are currently running unlicensed operations.
