District of Columbia

Cannabis laws in the District of Columbia express the tension between the federal and local governments and their overlapping jurisdictions over residents. Although marijuana is legal under District law, the possession, use, and sale of marijuana remains illegal under federal law. Cannabis legalization on the District side evolved in response to a series of voter-backed initiatives, including Initiative 59, adopted in 1998, seeking the legalization of medical cannabis. Its implementation was blocked by Congressional passage of the Barr Amendment. In 2013, the first purchase of medical marijuana was made from a licensed dispensary in the District. In 2014, voters extended legalization to adult use.

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