Apply for Your Washington, D.C., Medical Marijuana Card Online

Medical cannabis patients, including non-residents extended reciprocity, may purchase up to eight (8) ounces of cannabis within a rolling 30-day period and possess up to two (2) ounces at any time. Allowed formats include flowers, concentrates, edibles, transdermal products, seeds, and seedlings.

Cultivation is not explicitly permitted through the program, and therefore as part of the program, medical patients aren’t permitted to grow cannabis.

However, cultivation is legal because recreational cannabis use is legal. Individuals can grow up to 3 mature and 3 immature plants in their house.

There are no qualifying conditions in Washington D.C. Instead, it is up to the certifying healthcare provider to have a conversation with their patient and decide if medical cannabis is the right option for the individual person.

People over 21 can ‘self-certify’ and do not need to see a physician.

With Leafwell, you can get your Washington DC Medical Marijuana Card in 4 simple steps:

1. Register online with Leafwell and speak with our physician
You can speak to a doctor and qualify for a Washington DC medical marijuana card online. The cost of the online consultation is $99. You are only billed if approved. People over 65 can ‘Self-Certify’ and do not need to see a physician.

2. Receive your certificate from Leafwell
This is a certificate which says that your doctor recommends you become a cannabis patient under the state’s current laws and this certificate is required to apply for your MMJ Card. It includes your recommendation number

3. Complete the Application on the government website
Follow instructions in your email from Leafwell to apply to ABRA including adding in the recommendation number on your certificate and the name of your physician. At this point, you will pay the state fee of $100 (or $25 if you can prove low income)

4. Receive your medical marijuana card
If approved, you should receive your medical marijuana card in the mail within 3-4 weeks. Please note that it is the state that sends you the card, not Leafwell. Your certificate will be valid for one year from the date of issue. Please note that you must have a card issued by the Washington, D.C. Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration to legally purchase medical marijuana from a D.C. medicinal cannabis dispensary. You cannot purchase without this.

Washington, D.C.’s laws can be quite confusing, so here’s the essentials you need to keep in mind:

• Non-medical adult users cannot purchase or sell cannabis – only possess and grow. “Gifting” cannabis is also illegal.
• Only those with a valid medical marijuana card may legally purchase cannabis from a medical marijuana dispensary in Washington, D.C.
• There are no specific medical conditions that qualify for medical cannabis in Washington, D.C. – this is up to your certifying physician.
• Once certified for medical marijuana in Washington, D.C., you will need to apply online to the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration for your medical cannabis card. Without this, you cannot purchase medical marijuana from a dispensary in Washington, D.C.

You must be aged 18 years old or over in order to qualify for a medical marijuana card for yourself in Washington DC. Caregivers must be 18 years old or over. People over 65 can ‘Self-Certify’ and do not need to see a physician.

Yes, medical marijuana patients in Washington DC can have a caregiver. Caregivers will complete their own application.

Caregiver Requirements:

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Registered as the qualifying patient’s caregiver.
• Caregivers can serve only one qualifying patient at a time.
• DC residents and non-residents are both eligible to register in the District’s medical cannabis program as a caregiver. Caregiver applicants must be affiliated with a current patient to be approved.
  • Only DC residents may register in the program as a patient.
• A criminal background check report must be submitted with the caregiver application (background check information can be found on the application).
• Individuals who administer medical cannabis at a retailer or cultivation center are not eligible.

Here’s how to apply as a caregiver:

1. Individuals must submit a Medical Cannabis Caregiver Application with all required documentation and payment. Currently, an online application is not available for this application type.
   1. Mail or in-person: ABRA, Medical Cannabis Program, 2000 14th Street, Suite 102A, Washington, DC 20009
   2. Email: medicalcannabis@dc.gov
2. Caregiver registrations are valid for two years from the date of issuance. An annual fee* applies. See the Fee and Renewal Schedule.

*The fee is waived through December 7, 2023.

State Resources:

• Caregiver Application

If you’ve been approved by a Leafwell healthcare provider, the next step is to apply to the Washington DC Program via Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration, or ABRA. You can also self-certify if you are a resident of Washington, D.C. and 21 years of age or older.

DC residents who are at least 21 years of age may self-certify on their patient application that they will use cannabis purchased from a licensed dispensary for medical purposes in lieu of securing a recommendation from their healthcare provider.

-SSN is now required for patients registering for the state:

DC residents must submit an Adult or Minor Patient Application. Required items for the Adult Application include:

1. Social Security Number or a copy of a sworn affidavit stating lack of one.
2. One (1) current face photo, 2″x2″.
3. One (1) copy of their DC DMV REAL ID* OR
   – One (1) proof of DC residency and
   – One (1) copy of government-issued photo ID
4. A healthcare practitioner recommendation dated within two (2) years of the application submission date if not self-certifying. Applicants 21 years of age may self-certify in lieu of providing a recommendation.

Reciprocity for VA residents: * Virginia patients may present a valid Virginia-issued registration or an expired Virginia-issued registration with a Virginia healthcare provider-issued recommendation dated within one calendar year of the purchase date effective July 1, 2022.

Verified Source: https://abra.dc.gov/node/1531271

You may still choose to get a physician’s recommendation if you so wish, e.g. for a minor, those who are aged 18 to 20 or those seeking advice from a healthcare worker.

Note – these instructions are for both new patients and renewals.

• If you are a new patient, select ‘Initial’ under ‘Application Type’
• If you are renewing your card, select ‘Renewal’ under ‘Application Type’.

Before you start your application, gather the following information and documents: 

• Recommendation (expires 90 days after issuance)
• Social Security Number
• 2x Photos (a selfie works – head and shoulders, taken against a plain, light color wall)
• One (1) copy of government-issued photo identification (driver’s license, passport or state ID)
• One (1) proof of DC residency (driver’s license, utility bill, voter’s registration card, lease/deed/tax bill)
  • Note that your REAL ID can serve as your government ID and proof of residency
• Reduced fee applicants only: If you are low income, you are eligible for a lower fee ($25), and you can prove this using one of the following documentation: medicaid card, food stamp card, tax return, SNAP, unemployment status

Here’s what to do once you’ve been approved by a Leafwell healthcare professional.

1. Obtain your recommendation from your Leafwell.co account. We will email it to you. You will use the recommendation number on your certificate from your Leafwell healthcare provider to apply. Keep it as a reference until you receive your “card”. It is worth noting that those aged 21 or over who are residents of Washington, D.C. can now self-certify for medicinal cannabis and do not need a physician’s approval. The instructions still stay the same, however, whether or not you choose to get medical cannabis approval from a physician.
2. Use the link in your approval email to begin the application
   Using the correct link is important. Failure to use the correct portal will cause your application to be rejected without further notice.https://abra.dc.gov/page/medical-cannabis-patients provides all five (5) portals. Use the portal based on your healthcare professional’s specialization.Alternatively, here are all the healthcare providers currently certifying with Leafwell. Match the name on your recommendation and click below to reach the correct portal:
   1. Lisa M. Boynes-Sindass
   2. Maria Mainolfi 
   3. Karina Dahlerus
   4. Lewis Jassey

1. Complete the application on ABRA – All individuals must submit a Medical Cannabis Patient Application (adult or minor version) with all required documentation.
   1. Fill out all required information and upload relevant documents.
   2. Optional – if you are registering a caregiver, upload this form to the application.
   3. Select intended fee payment option << please note currently there is no patient fee but this is subject to change
   4. Click submit
   5. Upon submission, you will be sent a confirmation of receipt email.
   6. If your application is given initial approval, you will be sent a second email detailing payment options within three (3) business days. (If you don’t receive an email, check your spam/junk folder)
      1. To ensure prompt receipt, please add the state’s email address (medicalcannabis@dc.gov) to your safe senders list, address book, or contact list*Please note incomplete applications cannot be saved and returned to later.
         ** If you did not receive your link, you can click here and select the correct form
2. Receive both a digital approval letter and physical card via mail within 10-14 business days.
   1. Your certificate will be valid for one year from the date of issue.

Other FAQS

Can I use an expired driver’s license?

Yes, if the driver’s license expired after February 28, 2020 until September 9, 2021.

What form of payment can I use?

1. Credit and Debit cards (recommended)
2. Check or money order (must select this option on the application and your application will require more  time to process)

Can I submit a paper application?

Yes, but this process can take 4-6 weeks.

Why is it important to use the URL provided on the recommendation?

Your application is submitted under a specific portals based on the healthcare professional’s specialization (Physician, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse/Nurse Practitioner, Dentist, Physician  Assistant, Naturopathic Physician). The correct URL will be a clickable button in your approval email from Leafwell.

What will happen if I use/submit my application to the incorrect application portal?

Your application will be rejected and without further notice to the patient.

Why do I need to apply each year?

Patient circumstances may have changed, such as proof of income or address.

When do I pay?

ABRA will email you a payment link in three (3) business days. Note that currently these fees are waived.

What government agency handles the medical cannabis program?

ABRA.gov – Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration

How much is the card?

Note that currently these fees are waived but usually the costs are as below:

$100 – regular payment

$25 – low-income patients (if approved by ABRA) Upload proof on the application; failure to do so will  result in a $100 card fee.

$100 – replacement fee

$100 – caregiver’s card

I can’t find my payment link.

Look in your spam or junk folders. If you can’t find the email, you must make a request to ABRA to resend.