Overview  

Non-DC residents may purchase cannabis from any licensed dispensary in DC by registering for a temporary patient registration valid for 30-days or using their valid patient registration from a U.S. state or territory that has been extended reciprocity. 

Eligibility  

Domestic and international visitors that are at least 21 years of age are eligible to apply for a Non-DC Resident Medical Cannabis Patient Registration. 

Reciprocity is extended to patients that have a valid patient registration issued by their respective U.S. state or territory’s program.

Eligible jurisdictions include:  

Alaska	Maine	North Dakota
Arizona	Maryland	Ohio
Arkansas	Massachusetts	Oklahoma
California	Michigan	Oregon
Colorado	Minnesota	Pennsylvania
Connecticut	Mississippi	Puerto Rico
Delaware	Missouri	Rhode Island
Florida	Montana	South Dakota
Georgia	Nevada	Utah
Hawaii	New Hampshire	Vermont
Illinois	New Jersey	Virginia*
Iowa	New Mexico	Washington
	New York	West Virginia

* Virginia patients may use written healthcare practitioner recommendations to purchase medical cannabis and medical cannabis products from DC licensed Retailers starting on April 15, 2023. Recommendations must be unexpired and on the Commonwealth of Virginia-issued form for medical cannabis healthcare practitioner recommendations and accompanied by a valid Commonwealth of Virginia-issued photo ID with a matching name. U.S. Passports, student photo IDs, and other similar documents do not qualify. This modification was made to address the Commonwealth of Virginia’s decision, beginning on July 1, 2022, to allow Virginia patients to purchase medical cannabis from a dispensary with an unexpired valid written certification form issued by a registered healthcare practitioner.

Valid Period and Fees 

Non-DC Resident Medical Cannabis Patient Registrations are valid for 30-days from the date an application is submitted. Temporary registrations automatically expire after 30-days. An individual may only be issued one (1) temporary registration per 30-day rolling period. The fee for each temporary registration is $30. 

Reciprocity is available to individuals with valid patient registrations from eligible U.S. states and territories on an ongoing basis. ABRA does not access a fee or require registration.  

To Apply

Applicants seeking a temporary registration must complete an easy two-step process. Applicants must first submit the Non-DC Resident Medical Cannabis Patient Application. Upon submission, applicants will immediately be emailed an online payment link to complete their registration. Patients will promptly receive a digital registration once payment is completed that may be used immediately. 

Patients extended reciprocity do not need to apply to ABRA but must maintain an active patient registration through their state or territory’s program. Patients with expired registrations may apply for a temporary Non-DC Resident Medical Cannabis Patient Registration.  

Of Note

• Non-DC Resident Medical Cannabis Patients will only be issued a digital registration that will be sent to the email included in their application. 

• Non-DC residents must present a valid digital or physical patient registration and a government-issued photo ID at the dispensary. 

• Patients may purchase up to 8-ounces of cannabis within a 30-day rolling period.