Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.

abra

Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration
 

DC Agency Top Menu

ABCA’s office will be closed on Monday, October 14, for Indigenous Peoples’ Day. We will reopen at 8:30 am on Tuesday, October 15.   

-A +A
Bookmark and Share

Medical Cannabis Patient and Facility Fees

All fees are non-refundable*

Patient Registration Fees

Patients and Caregivers

Fees for initial and renewal patient and caregiver digital registrations are waived through November 28, 2024. The cost of a physical patient or caregiver registration card is $10.

Type Standard Fee Reduced Fee* Valid Period Application Period
New Registration $100 $25 Six (6) years from date of issuance Ongoing basis
Renewal Registration $100 $25 Six (6) years from date of issuance Ongoing basis
Replacement Card $10 $10 Six (6) years from date of issuance Ongoing basis

Non-DC Residents

Domestic and international visitors that are at least 21 years of age are eligible to purchase medical cannabis from a licensed DC Retailer by registering for a temporary patient registration or using their valid patient registration from a U.S. state or territory that has been extended reciprocity.

Valid Period Length Fee
3 days $10
30 days $20
90 days $50
180 days $75
365 days $100

 

 

 

 


Reduced Fees

To qualify for a reduced fee, applicants must provide proof of being a current Medicaid or DC Alliance recipient or documentation verifying their total gross income with their completed application. Income verification is required for each renewal or replacement card request.

Eligible documentation includes:

  • Earnings statements received within the previous thirty (30) days;
  • District of Columbia or federal tax filing returns for the most recent tax year
  • For newly employed applicants, a verifiable copy of an offer of employment that states the amount of salary to be paid
  • A copy of a Social Security or worker's compensation benefit statement
  • Proof of child support or alimony received
  • Any other unearned income or assets including, but not limited to, stocks, bonds, annuities, private pension and retirement accounts
  • Any other item(s) of proof deemed by ABRA or the ABC Board or their designated agent reasonably calculated to demonstrate a person’s current income.

If an applicant is confirmed eligible for a reduced rate, their registered caregiver, regardless of their personal income also qualifies for the reduced rate. Caregivers are optional except for minor patients.


Medical Cannabis Business Licenses

Business Licensure Periods

License Classification Licensure Period Ending Year
Courier Jan.1 - Dec. 31 2024
Cultivation Center Jan.1 - Dec. 31 2025
Internet Retailer Jan.1 - Dec. 31 2023
Manufacturer Jan.1 - Dec. 31 2025
Retailer Jan.1 - Dec. 31 2023
Testing Laboratory  Jan.1 - Dec. 31 2024

Conditional AppointmentApplication Fees

Conditional License Type Applicant Fee          Approval Fee         Total Due       
Conditional Cultivation Center, Manufacturer, Retailer, Internet Retailer or Courier-Standard Applicant $800 $1,200 $2,000
Conditional-Cultivation Center, Manufacturer, Retailer, Internet Retailer or Courier-Social Equity Applicant (SEA)
(Social equity fees are reduced for the first 3 years of operation)
$200 $300 $500
Conditional Testing Laboratory Standard Applicant $0 $1,200 $1,200
Conditional Testing Laboratory Social Equity Applicant $0 $300 $300

NOTE: Application and conditional license submission fees are due at the time an application, or a conditional license application is submitted. First year licensing fees and conditional license approval fees are due upon ABC Board approval of the conditional license or license application. Applicants who are denied approval for a conditional license or have their application denied are not required to pay approval or first-year licensing fees.

Standard License Application Fees

Standard License Type  Standard Applicant Fee Social Equity Applicant (SEA) Fee
(Reduced for first 3 years of operation)
Standard Retailer License $8,000 $2,000
Standard Internet Retailer License  $8,000 $2,000
Standard Cultivation Center License $8,000 $2,000
Standard Manufacturer License $4,000 $1,000
Standard Courier License  $4,000 $1,000
Standard Testing Laboratory $0 $0

Standard License Endorsement Type

Standard Applicant Fee
SEA Fee
(Reduced for first 3 years of operation)
Retailer Delivery Endorsement $300 $300
Education Tasting Endorsement $130 $130
Safe-Use Treatment (Tasting) Facility Endorsement  $1,000 $1,000
Summer Garden Endorsement $300 $300
Certified Training Provider Permit $100 $100

Annual Licensing Fees∆

Description of Annual License Fees Standard Business License SEA License Fee
(Reduced for first 3 years of operation)
Cultivation Center Licenseᶲ Tier 1 - $11,000
Tier 2 - $16,000
Tier 3 - $21,000
Tier 4 - $26,000
Tier 5 - $31,000
Tier 6 - $36,000
Tier 1 - $2,750
Tier 2 - $4,000
Tier 3 - $5,250
Tier 4 - $6,500
Tier 5 - $7,750
Tier 6 - $9,000
Manufacturer License Type 1 - Manufacturing Only $4,000
Type 2 - Manufacturing and Extraction $8,000 

Type 1 - Manufacturing Only - $1,000
Type 2 - Manufacturing and Extraction - $2,000

Retailer License $16,000 $4,000
Internet Retailer $16,000 $4,000
Courier License $8,000 $2,000
Testing Lab License $7,500 $1,875

∆Licensing fees are due upon application approval and each year thereafter.

ᶲCultivation Center Licensing fees are charged as follows:

Tier 1=Mature cannabis plant grow canopy area greater than 0 sq ft but no more than 10,000 sq ft
Tier 2=Mature cannabis plant grow canopy area greater than 10,000 sq ft but no more than 25,000 sq ft
Tier 3=Mature cannabis plant grow canopy area greater than 25,000 sq ft but no more than 50,000 sq ft
Tier 4=Mature cannabis plant grow canopy area greater than 50,000 sq ft but no more than 75,000 sq ft
Tier 5=Mature cannabis plant grow canopy area greater than 75,000 sq ft but no more than 100,000 sq ft
Tier 6=Mature cannabis plant grow canopy area greater than 100,000 sq ft

License Endorsement and Permit Fees

License Endorsement Type Standard Business SEA Business
Retailer Delivery $300 $300
Education Tasting $130 $130
Safe-Use Treatment (Tasting) Facility $2,000 $2,000
Summer Garden $300 $300
Permit Type Standard Business SEA Business
Medical Cannabis Certification Training Provider Permit $300 $300
Transport Permit $25 $25
Substantial Change Fees
Transfer to New Location* $5,000 $5,000
Facility Capacity or Physical Plant Change** $2,000 $2,000
Transfer of Ownership Change*** $2,500 $625
Change of Director, Officer, Member, Incorporator, or Agent $100 $25
Corporate or Trade Name Change $100 $25

* Transfer to new location fees apply any time a medical cannabis business seeks to move the location of any of its licensed premises. If a medical cannabis business has more than one facility or licensed premises, the license-holder must pay the transfer to new location fee for each facility or premises that will be relocated.
** Facility Capacity or Physical Plant Change fees apply any time a license-holder seeks to change or modify the medical cannabis business’ cultivation or manufacturing capacity and move to a different cultivation production management tier or management capacity.
*** Transfer of Ownership Change fees apply any time an eligible license-holder seeks to transfer 50% or more of ownership interest in the license-holder to another person or entity.

Other License Endorsement and Permit Fees

Operational Fee Type Standard Business SEA Business
Duplicate, Replacement or Lost License, Registration, or Permit $25 $25
Returned Check Fee $100 $100
Late Fee**** $50 per day $50 per day

**** A late fee of $50 per day applies any time a license holder fails to timely renew their license, registration, or permit. The total amount of the late fee to be paid cannot exceed the cost of the license, registration, or permit.

Facility Staff

Director/Officer/Member/Incorporator $200
Agent $200
Manager $150
Employee $75

Of Note

All conditional and standard license, endorsement, and/or permit fees are nonrefundable unless otherwise indicated in Title 22-C of the D.C. Municipal Regulations. Failure to pay the required fee at the designated time will result in denial or revocation of the application, license, endorsement or permit. Payment must be submitted by authorized electronic paylink, credit card, cashier’s check, certified check or money order; made payable to “DC Treasurer.”