The legalization of cannabis in DC has raised various questions surrounding the rules and regulations, with consumers wanting to be as safe and lawful as possible.
Though cannabis has been legalized in the Capital, that doesn’t mean you can spark a joint outside your favorite coffee shop or on your morning walk. On the contrary, DC has placed quite strict laws on cannabis consumption, especially when it comes to where you can and cannot smoke.
Before knowing where the law permits smoking cannabis, you should be educated about cannabis’ legality as a whole to always ensure you are within proper regulations.
Back in 2014, Washington DC passed Initiative 71, a ballot that legalized the consumption of cannabis recreationally. Through this bill, residents of DC can possess up to two ounces of weed at a time. What gets confusing, however, is the fact that the actual sale of marijuana is not legal, so there are no traditional dispensaries in DC. Because of this, weed services have gotten creative.
It’s called “gifting.” Here in DC, you can purchase a different (legal) product and be given cannabis for free, either at a shop or through a weed delivery service. With this convenient, wherever-you’re-at service, you may feel inclined to also enjoy your cannabis in the places you receive it. Even so, it is crucial to note that it is currently illegal to consume cannabis in public.
No matter how pot-friendly an establishment may be, it’s simply illegal for residents of DC to enjoy cannabis in any public space. This means that anywhere that the public is legally invited, you cannot consume cannabis in any way, shape, or form. Even in discreet versions like edibles or vapes, weed must be enjoyed in only the most private places.
This also does not permit the consumption of cannabis in your car, either. Even if your vehicle is in park and turned off, you cannot smoke within your ride as this, too, violates the law of “home use.” So, this begs the question: where can you smoke in DC then?
Recreational cannabis was legalized in Washington DC with the idea that it be grown and consumed at home only. Your private residence is the best, safest place to consume cannabis, and DC doesn’t allow it anywhere else. Smoking in your backyard, front yard, garage, or even inside your home is completely legal, just as long as you don’t travel anywhere else with it.
Recently, cannabis-centered Airbnb’s and “Bud and Breakfasts” have popped up in the DC area, with owners allowing renters to enjoy cannabis in the safety of their private residence. This way, no laws are being broken, and you can smoke in your home-away-from-home.
Simply put, whenever in DC, you should always be enjoying your cannabis in a private residence.