How to Get your Medical Cannabis Card
The DC Cannabis community went through a huge transition April 2025, welcoming nearly 60 unregulated cannabis dispensaries, manufacturers and cultivators, into the regulated medical market.
This change, while different and new, is a really important step towards broader acceptance and legalization - establishing greater access to cannabis, creating a more equitable market, and ensuring products you’re consuming are safe and tested.
Here’s what you need to know About accessing medical cannabis in dc:
While right now, DC doesn’t have recreational dispensaries, people 21+ can get products from licensed medical dispensaries — and getting your medical card is easy.
Pro-tip: If you’re traveling to DC with friends, only one person in your group needs to have (or be willing to apply for) a card because in DC, adults 21+ can share cannabis with other adults. Also, if you have a medical card from another state, you can use it here in DC with a valid government issued photo ID!
Already got a medical card?
You’re good to go. Just show your card (unexpired!) with your ID!
Remember, like we said above, in DC you can visit licensed cannabis dispensaries using a valid medical cannabis card from another state. Check out the rules here.
No card? No Problem!
Apply for a temporary card online - it takes about 5 minutes! All U.S. + international visitors (21+) are eligible. Use your passport or license to register on the ABCA site.
Once you apply + pay, your temporary card hits your email in minutes.
Use it instantly. No wait. No stress.
Getting your medical Card at NCF
We recommend signing up in advance, but if you decide to wait til festival weekend, you can visit one of the NCF Medical Cannabis Card Sign Up booths (4 located across the grounds) and have the wonderful volunteers from the DC Cannabis Business Association answer your questions and assist with registration.
To sign up, you need something that shows your address, a photo and something that proves you’re 21+ — all of those things can be found on your driver’s license or government issued photo ID.
Why is the DC cannabis market so unique?
Well, that’s a loaded question!
The hard part:
The DC budget is under congressional control. That means each year our city budget has to be approved so the city has money to spend on social services, infrastructure etc. Unfortunately, with this authority over the local budget, Congress has limited DC’s ability to expand our cannabis market from medical to recreational despite overwhelming support from DC voters.
That means, for now, we have a small but thriving medical dispensary market filled with dedicated small business owners and advocates who are holding the line for patients in our region and pushing forward as best they can in a limited market environment.
The cool part:
Cannabis grown in DC is pretty darn good! We only have small, craft cultivators and manufacturers in the city compared to the giant multi-acre indoor grow facilities you may find in larger states. That means our cultivators spend extra time with each plant, perfecting their skills and ensuring the best quality for DC patients. Yeah, we’re gonna brag a bit!
Why should you support the medical cannabis market?
DC’s medical cannabis market is made up of small business owners, many of whom transitioned from the “legacy” market with the dream of building a business that can sustain their families and be in their communities for generations to come. Getting a medical cannabis license is neither a cheap nor easy process. These folks worked HARD to claim a space in the regulated market and they are pioneering a path that many more will come down.
Yeah, regulation can feel less fun, but in this case it’s a sign of major progress - more medical dispensaries means more access for all patients, and it also means we get to show the potential for the cannabis industry here in the nation’s capitol, on the doorstep of Congress.
When you visit DC, use your retail power to shop local and visit licensed medical cannabis dispensaries to help us create the impact to show congress that it’s time for federal cannabis legalization.