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District of Columbia Cannabis Legal Status (2026)
Conditional: In the District of Columbia, recreational possession, gifting, and home cultivation are legal for adults 21 and older (Initiative 71), but commercial recreational sales are not permitted — there is no licensed adult-use retail.
In the District of Columbia, recreational possession, gifting, and home cultivation are legal for adults 21 and older (Initiative 71), but commercial recreational sales are not permitted — there is no licensed adult-use retail. Cannabis remains illegal under federal law.
Official source: mayor.dc.gov →
General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.
Cannabis Legal Status in states bordering District of Columbia
The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.
- MarylandPermitted
Recreational cannabis is legal in Maryland for adults 21 and older (effective July 1, 2023), and a medical program also operates. It is regulated by the Maryland Cannabis Administration.
Verified Jul 2, 2026 · Source: cannabis.maryland.gov · Full Maryland rule →
- VirginiaConditional
In Virginia, adults 21 and older may legally possess and home-grow cannabis (legalized 2021), but there is no licensed adult-use retail market yet. The 2026 retail-market bills (HB 642 and SB 542) were vetoed by Governor Spanberger on May 19, 2026, so no adult-use retail launch date is set — a legal retail market now awaits future legislation (the 2027 session at the earliest).
Verified Jul 20, 2026 · Source: law.lis.virginia.gov · Full Virginia rule →
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