Cannabis in Washington, D.C.

A canvasser for the DC Cannabis Campaign soliciting signatures for Initiative 71

In Washington, D.C., cannabis is legal for both medical use and recreational use for possession, personal use, cultivation, transportation and gifting, and for retail sale once a regulatory system is implemented following an affirmative vote by the residents on a 2014 ballot initiative.[1][2] The United States Congress exercises oversight over the government of the District of Columbia, preventing the local government from regulating cannabis sales like other jurisdictions with authority derived from a U.S. state.[2]

Although marijuana is legal under District law, the possession of marijuana is still illegal under federal law. Marijuana prohibition is enforced on federal lands, including national parks and military property. The federal government controls about 29% of the District's total land area, about 18 square miles (47 km2), including the National Mall, West Potomac Park, Rock Creek Park, and Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling.[3][4]

  1. ^ "D.C. Voters' Guide '98". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference wp.ada was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Ted Mellnik & Denise Lu, Graphic: Marijuana still illegal on federal land, Washington Post (February 24, 2015).
  4. ^ Martin Austermuhle, Here's Just About Everything You Need To Know About Pot Legalization In D.C., WAMU (February 25, 2015).