With weed becoming legal in most places nationwide, it’s no secret that marijuana is one of the fastest-growing industries in the country – and Washington, DC is on its way to joining the club. In the last few months of 2022, Washington, DC has enacted a huge change in its stance toward recreational weed usage in the District.
As an emerging hub of cannabis cultivation, this could guarantee DC $315 million in state transportation revenue, six million square feet of greenhouse production capacity, and another 300 job families in the next decade. Breaking down this information and comparing these numbers to previously made predictions.
Washington, DC is known for its recreational weed and it was legalized on July 17, 2019, but not before it faced a lot of fiery opposition. With that in mind, and in light of the latest amendments to their policy regarding cannabis usage, we thought this would be a good opportunity to add updates on how things are shaping up.
What is the current legal status of recreational weed in DC?
In recent news, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed legislation in July 2022 that lifted the restriction on adults to carry a written prescription from a physician before buying medicinal or recreational marijuana in DC. Known as the Medical Marijuana Self-Certification Emergency Amendment Act of 2022, this change comes in the succession of a unanimous vote by all the members of the DC City Council in favor of individuals over the age of 21 years to be able to self-certify for recreational use of cannabis, thus allowing easy access from registered dispensaries.
In the early developments of weed legalization, DC residents voted to decriminalize recreational weed in 2014. However, the law did not go into effect until 2017. In 2018, Congress passed a budget amendment that blocked DC from using its own money to implement the law. As a result, the law was put on hold.
In 2019, DC Council passed a new law that would have legalized recreational weed. However, this law was also blocked by Congress.
What types of recreational weed are being legally sold in DC?
There are two types of recreational weed being legally sold in DC: cannabis and hemp. Cannabis is the type of weed that contains THC, the chemical that gets users high. Hemp is a type of weed that contains CBD, a compound that has many health benefits but does not make users high.
Cannabis and hemp are being sold in DC dispensaries. Dispensaries are businesses that sell cannabis and hemp products. Currently, there are about 20 dispensaries in DC.
Cannabis and hemp products being sold in DC dispensaries include flowers, oils, edibles, and topical products. Flowers are the leaves and buds of the cannabis plant. Oils are extracts from the cannabis plant that can be used for cooking or taking orally. Edibles are food items that have been infused with cannabis or hemp extract. Topical products are creams, lotions, and other products that can be applied to the skin.
Currently, possession of small amounts of recreational weed is legal in DC. However, it is illegal to smoke weed in public places or drive while under the influence of weed.
Currently, only dry leaf weed and weed-infused edibles are being sold legally in DC. However, the DC government is considering legalizing other forms of recreational weed, such as concentrates and pre-rolled joints.
Dry leaf weed is the most common form of weed that is sold legally. It can be smoked using a pipe or bong, or it can be rolled into a joint. Weed-infused edibles are also popular, especially among people who don’t want to smoke weed. These edibles can come in many different forms, such as brownies, cookies, and gummies.
Concentrates are a more potent form of weed that is made by extracting THC from the plant material. Concentrates can be smoked using a special device called a dab rig, or they can be added to other forms of weed to make them more potent. Pre-rolled joints are joints that have already been rolled with cannabis. They are typically sold in packs of two or three.
The DC government is currently considering legalizing all of these forms of recreational weed, in addition to allowing home cultivation of up to 6 plants. However, no decisions have been made yet.
More updates to recreational weed legislation in DC
The District of Columbia recently made some changes to its recreational weed legislation. Previously, only medical marijuana was legal in the district. However, the new legislation legalized recreational marijuana for adults 21 and over.
The new legislation also allows for the possession of up to two ounces of marijuana. It also allows adults to grow up to six marijuana plants in their homes. The new legislation has generated a lot of excitement from residents of the district. Many people are looking forward to being able to legally purchase and consume recreational marijuana. The changes to the law are expected to boost the local economy and create jobs in the district.
The most significant change is the legalization of the home cultivation of up to six cannabis plants. This allows residents to grow their own cannabis at home, without having to purchase it from a dispensary.
Other changes include the decriminalization of possession of up to two ounces of cannabis and the creation of a new license category for “cannabis cafes” where customers can consume cannabis on-site. These cafes will be subject to strict regulations and will only be allowed in certain areas of the city.
These updates to the legislation are designed to make it easier for people to access and consume recreational cannabis in DC. They will also help to boost the city’s economy by creating new businesses and jobs.
In addition to this, there have been several recent updates to the recreational weed legislation in DC that protects employees who indulge in recreational marijuana use.
A new bill named the Cannabis Employment Protections Amendment Act of 2022 has been unanimously passed, pending the Mayor’s approval, and would ban employers from firing employees who fail marijuana drug testing. What more is that this bill also restricts employers from showing a bias in the hiring process if a candidate is open about his/her recreational or medicinal marijuana use.
However, there are some exceptions to this rule. While employers cannot fire or refuse to hire an employee who uses recreational weed, this still does not allow employees to possess or consume marijuana at work or during performing work-related duties. Hence, it holds both parties accountable by stating that the employers won’t be considered in violation of the bill if they act in accordance with the federal guidelines.
All in all, the bill permits employees freedom of recreational marijuana use, but in their personal time and on their own property. “Possession, storage, delivery, transfer, display, transportation, sale, purchase, or growing of cannabis at the employee’s place of employment” is still illegal.
What’s next for recreational marijuana in 2022?
The DC Council recently voted to decriminalize recreational marijuana, making it one of the most progressive cities in the US when it comes to cannabis policy.
While there is still some work to be done in terms of regulation and taxation, the overall legal landscape is now much more favorable for businesses and consumers alike.
So what does this mean for the future of recreational marijuana in DC?
For starters, we can expect to see a boom in the number of businesses offering cannabis products and services. This will include everything from dispensaries and delivery services to smoking lounges and tour operators.
Tourism will also increase as people come from all over to enjoy the city’s new relaxed attitude towards marijuana. This could bring a much-needed boost to the local economy.
So far, the DC Council has proposed a tax rate of 20% on all cannabis sales, which would generate millions of dollars in revenue for the city. This money could be used to fund public programs and infrastructure projects.
It’s still early days, but the future of recreational marijuana in DC looks bright. With decriminalization now in effect, we can expect to see many positive changes in the years ahead.
It’s been a long road, but recreational marijuana is finally legal in DC! What does this mean for the city moving forward?
The main change that will be visible to residents and visitors alike is the presence of dispensaries. A handful of dispensaries are already open for business, and many more are expected to open in the coming months. This will make it much easier for people to access weed, whether they want to purchase it for personal use or medical purposes.
In addition to more dispensaries, there will also be more growers and processors operating in DC. This will help to create jobs and boost the local economy. It’s also expected that tax revenue from recreational marijuana will be used to fund public health initiatives, such as drug education and prevention programs.
So what’s next for recreational marijuana in DC? It’s safe to say that the industry will only grow in the coming years. Dispensaries will become more commonplace, and more products will become available to consumers. We can expect to see continued progress toward normalization and acceptance of recreational marijuana use in DC.
Conclusion
With weed now being legal in DC, there are bound to be a lot of changes happening in the near future. For now, possession is still limited to one ounce, and smoking is only allowed on private property. However, this is just the beginning, and we can expect more leniency when it comes to the availability of more varieties of recreational weed in the future. Are you excited about these changes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
