Bill to Update Medical Cannabis Program Introduced by Seven D.C. Councilmembers

The bill, titled the Medical Cannabis Process Improvement Amendment Act of 2025, has been formally referred to the Committee on Business and Economic Development. In addition to other changes, the proposal would tighten location rules near child-serving facilities and expand the ability of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions to weigh in on license applications. The measure is sponsored by Councilmembers Charles Allen, Anita Bonds, Christina Henderson, Brooke Pinto, Matthew Frumin, Janeese Lewis George, and Zachary Parker. It follows more than a year of stepped-up enforcement against unlicensed cannabis shops and continued efforts to stabilize the city’s regulated medical marijuana program.

A key provision of the bill would close what councilmembers describe as an unintended loophole in existing law. While current rules bar medical cannabis retailers from operating within 300 feet of preschools, K–12 schools, and recreation centers, the law never defined the term “preschool.” That gap has allowed retailers to propose locations next to facilities serving young children, depending on how the facility is licensed. The new bill explicitly adds “child development facilities” to the restricted-proximity list, aligning the statute with what sponsors say was the Council’s original intent.

The legislation also strengthens protest rights for communities. Under current law, daycare centers have limited grounds on which they can formally object to a proposed medical cannabis licensee, none of which directly cover potential impacts on children. The bill expands allowable protest grounds to include peace, order, quiet, and concerns about children’s exposure—standards already in place for alcohol licensing. It would also extend protest authority to ANC commissioners for internet retailer licenses, an area where councilmembers say a discrepancy has prevented community input even when delivery operations could affect neighborhood traffic or safety.

Councilmember Allen, who submitted the bill with a detailed letter outlining its purpose, said the changes reflect real-world implementation issues identified since the Council expanded ABCA’s oversight tools and cracked down on unlicensed sales. The updates, he wrote, are meant to further protect children, improve community engagement, and ensure the medical program operates as intended.

With the legislation now before the Business and Economic Development Committee, it will next be scheduled for a public hearing or markup before any full Council consideration.