How to Get Weed in DC: THE Official 2023 Guide
Updated: Aug 21
Whether you're a frequent smoker or a casual user, we can all agree that it can be a pain in the a** to not know how to get weed in DC. From strict weed laws that keep individuals from using weed for recreational purposes to the lack of high-quality products, one might think that getting their hands on marijuana in DC is a crime. But is it?
Getting weed in the nation's capital can be daunting, and without proper knowledge, you might find yourself on the wrong side of the law. You wouldn't want to spend time in jail just because you lit a joint in the wrong place, would you? After reading this guide, you won't have to worry about the law and you'll be fully-educated on everything you need to know on how to buy weed in DC – the legal way.
Can you buy weed in Washington DC?
So, can you buy weed in Washington DC? The short answer is yes; buying weed in DC is completely possible. (Kind of).
But before we dive into the hotspots and popular joints (no pun intended) for weed enthusiasts, let's first understand some of the regulations that govern marijuana usage. DC has tons of weird laws that can get you in trouble.
For example, did you know that smoking weed in your car is a violation in Washington, DC? Yup! There are several other rules like this that could land you in hot water. But don't worry; we'll go over them later.
Is Weed Legal in Washington DC?
The answer to this question is a bit complicated. In 2014, DC residents voted to legalize weed for recreational purposes; in 2015, this bill was approved. It was known as Initiative 71. One thing to note is that although the initiative 71 bill was approved, the sale of recreational weed was still not legalized.
So yes, weed is technically legal for both recreational and medical uses in Washington DC.
So how do people get weed in DC? In the next section, we will dive deeper into the concept of Initiative 71 to help you understand how people get weed in DC.
What is Initiative 71?
In 2015, recreational marijuana was decriminalized in Washington, DC- this occurred when the government passed initiative 71. Initiative 71 is the legalization of minor amounts of marijuana for personal use. It is a voter-approved (a whopping 64.87% approval) ballot initiative that legalized the consumption of weed for recreational purposes as long as it is GIFTED and not sold. Gifted?! Yes, in DC, it's possible for residents and tourists with no medical marijuana card to get weed in DC FOR FREE.
This allowed multiple I-71 gift shops to open up in the DMV area and gave the opportunity for cannabis lovers with no MMC to get weed in DC FOR FREE. We'll explain the details below.
Do they have recreational dispensaries in DC?
Remember when we told you we might have a problem? Sike! Select groups have found a way to bypass this law legally. So, are there dispensaries in DC? Well, sort of, but not your usual kind - like the ones in Vegas or LA.
Although weed was legalized for adult use, the law still prevents the establishment of cannabis retail systems or recreational weed dispensaries.
The law clearly states that weed sale is prohibited for recreational use, but it allows us to give it as a gift. DC residents found a loophole in the gifting system that allows for what is known as I-71 gift shops. These shops do not operate like regular dispensaries. They allow customers to buy weed, but they do not technically sell it. Instead, they "gift" it in exchange for something of equal value. These DC weed gifting shops do this by selling items such as shirts, art, or pencils and hooking customers up with free cannabis as a form of appreciation. With this system put in place, this is the closest thing we have to a recreational dispensary in Washington DC.
For example, let's say you want to buy an ounce of weed. You would go into an I-71 gift shop and find an item that costs $25. You would then give the store this item, and they would give you an ounce of weed.
I-71 gift shops have become increasingly popular in DC because they allow people to get weed in DC without having to go through the hassle of getting a medical marijuana card.
Washington DC Dispensary Rules
Getting weed in DC for medical purposes is straightforward. You can visit any of Washington, DC's dispensaries for medical purposes. You must, however, show your medical marijuana card to the budtender as proof that you are using it for medicinal reasons.
However, if you want recreational weed, you can visit one of the various I71-compliant gift shops in DC (like ours) and get some dope products and get gifted some cannabis as a token of appreciation – without the need for a medical card!
Now let's discuss how to get FREE weed in DC with the help of Initiative 71.
Where to Get Weed in DC (Free Weed Gifts - No Medical Card Needed)
Alright, now let's talk about the good stuff, how to get your hand on some high-quality weed in DC. With several laws set in place to prevent the sale of weed for recreational use, it's essential to know how to select a dispensary or weed shop that won't get you into trouble with the law.
There are numerous cannabis shops to choose from in Washington, DC. But BEWARE, not all of them are approved or compliant with I71. Most of these dispensaries are sketchy back-door vendors and often cause you to involve yourself in illicit acts. And, of course, getting in trouble isn't something we would want.
A great example of an I71-compliant shop is The Garden, DC. Rated Top 3 Best "Gifting" Services in Washington DC by Washington City Paper, The Garden offers only premium free weed gifts to both DC residents & tourists with no medical card needed. Choose from our wide variety of flower, edibles, concentrates, pre-rolls, and more. The Garden also offers all smoking accessories like bongs, pipes, and rolling papers, so you'll have everything you need for the perfect smoke session.
How to Order a Free Weed Gift from The Garden:
Select your free marijuana gift of choice
Purchase a token
Each token will help support one of our organizations like the T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project, Three Part Harmony Farm, & more.
The Garden currently offers in-store shopping & free in-store pick up. Preorder online and skip the line when you pick up your weed gift at the store!
PS: Please bring cash and a 21+ state-issued ID to pick up your order.
Some of our best sellers:
Where can I buy edibles in DC?
Edibles? What are they? Put simply; edibles are food products that contain cannabis. Cannabis-infused edibles are a popular way to consume marijuana, especially for people who do not want to smoke it. Edibles can come in many different forms, such as brownies, cookies, candies, and drinks. Crazy, right?
So you might be wondering where to get edibles in DC. But before you go munching on some weed brownies, if you’re new to the edible game then it’s safe to know how long do edibles last and how much you should eat. In the next section, we provide you with the means of acquiring the best marijuana edibles in DC.
How to buy edibles in Washington DC
Everyone can agree that dealing with anything marijuana-related in DC can be a bit daunting. But we've got good news! Getting edibles in DC just got simpler! The Garden has made it possible for customers to get the greatest edibles in DC easily.
How? Well, it's easy. All you have to do is head on to The Garden DC's online menu, pick your favorite edible form, and your high-quality edibles will be ready for pick-up at our store. Note that you will be required to provide a government-issued ID card- this is done to help identify if the customer is of legal age.
Wait! There's more! With every purchase you make at the Garden DC, you support causes that help bring change where it is needed most.
How to Buy Weed in Washington DC from a Medical Dispensary
If you're looking to BUY recreational weed in DC will be asked to follow the laws that guide its use; some of these laws include;
Being 21 or over
Having a medical marijuana card for medical purposes
Visit a Medical Dispensary
And smoking on permitted grounds.
These are some of the prevailing laws in DC, and most times, it makes us wonder if weed is ACTUALLY legal in the capital. However if you're a tourist visiting the DMV area or a frequent smoker that lives in DC, we recommend going the easy route and get your marijuana from a certified I-71 Shop like The Garden.
Which Washington DC Dispensaries are open?
A great example of an I71 compliant shop is The Garden DC. The Garden DC is a CBD product and smoke shop based in Washington DC which offers in-store shopping and online preordering. With 4 stars out of 5 on Google, The Garden is one of the most trusted and well-known DC cannabis shops.
The Garden DC Hours
The Garden DC is open throughout the week. On Monday to Saturdays from 10 am - 9 pm and On Sundays from 12 pm - 8 pm. Hit us up on Whatsapp or call (202) 815-5663 if you have any questions about visiting our store.
What are the weed laws in Washington DC?
Getting marijuana in Washington, DC, is legal as long as you abide by the laws that guide its use. The law states that residents can possess up to two oz on their person at any time. You are also entitled to gift or give away up to one ounce of weed.
As for the cultivation of marijuana, you are allowed to nurture up to 6 plants, three of which may be mature. These are some of the recreational marijuana laws made possible by Initiative 71.
Can You Smoke Weed In DC?
Yes, smoking weed in DC is legal. But again it comes with a catch. In order to smoke weed in DC, you have to abide by the various laws guiding the use of marijuana. And one of these laws states that smoking in public and on federal grounds is prohibited (Initiative 71). Aside from that, you must be 21 years or older.
You can smoke weed at the comfort of your home; however, if you're itching to light up a joint somewhere that's not your home, we've got a few recommendations of where you can smoke in DC.
Where can you smoke weed in DC?
Now that we know that smoking weed is legal as long as you follow DC cannabis laws, we will highlight places where you can smoke your pre-rolls without breaking the law;
Places you can smoke weed:
A homie’s house
Your own house
Anybody’s house
Not in public
Places you can't smoke weed:
Parks
Military property
Federal ground (Just so you know, 25% of DC ground is federal)
Visit The Garden DC - #1 Best Rated Smoke Shop
Acquiring weed in DC shouldn't always be a chore. That's why our team at The Garden DC has worked hard for you to ensure that you can get Initiative 71 compliant top-quality weed gifted to you. Sound's easy, right? That's because it is!
To view our menu, visit our website and call (202) 815-5663 for any questions regarding Initiative 71's Gifting Process or buying weed in DC. For The Garden DC hours, please check our website. Follow us on Instagram to find out more about 420-friendly and Initiative 71-compliant deliveries.
References:
https://www.dctoplevel.com/post/marijuana-dispensaries-in-washington-d-c-guide-where-to-buy-weed