D.C. Mayor Bowser Signs Law Extending Conditional Medical Cannabis Licenses to Three Years

The new law amends the Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Treatment Initiative of 1999 to extend the expiration dates of conditional licenses for medical cannabis businesses. Instead of being capped at two years, conditional licenses for cultivation centers, retailers, internet retailers, manufacturers, couriers, and testing laboratories will now remain valid for up to three years. In addition, the law automatically converts existing licenses to the new system. One-year conditional licenses that previously converted into two-year licenses will now automatically extend to three years. These updated licenses will expire two years after their original expiration date, without requiring extra approval from the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board or any additional fees.

The legislation takes effect immediately and will remain active until January 2026.

Washington D.C. legalized medical cannabis in 1999, though the first dispensary did not open until 2013. The district’s market has since grown considerably. According to recent data from the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration, D.C.’s medical cannabis program brought in $10.9 million in sales in September, an increase of 182% compared to the same month in 2024.