DC Bill to Allow Medical Marijuana Retailers to Prepare Edibles, Prerolls and Topicals Advances to Committee of the Whole
- The Medical Cannabis Retailer Craft Preparation Endorsement Amendment Act (Council Bill 26-0259) would allow licensed medical marijuana retailers in Washington, D.C. to prepare certain cannabis products on-site.
- The proposal permits retailers with the new endorsement to make edibles, lotions, soaps, ointments, and prerolls using cannabis oil or butter from licensed manufacturers, for sale to qualifying patients and caregivers.
- The legislation includes strict regulations such as product testing, labeling, shelf-stability requirements, and restrictions on manufacturing processes, including bans on cannabinoid extraction and transdermal patches.
- The bill limits on-site preparation space and raw material quantities and prohibits sales to other retailers or wholesalers; it has advanced to the Committee of the Whole for further consideration before a possible full council vote.
A proposal that would allow licensed medical marijuana retailers in Washington, D.C. to prepare certain products on-site has advanced to the Committee of the Whole, marking a key step forward in the legislative process. Council Bill 26-0259, titled the Medical Cannabis Retailer Craft Preparation Endorsement Amendment Act, was introduced at the request of the mayor and would create a new “craft preparation endorsement” for medical marijuana retailers. The measure has now been referred to the Committee of the Whole, positioning it for broader council consideration.
Under the proposal, retailers who obtain the endorsement would be allowed to prepare specific medical marijuana products at their licensed premises for sale to qualifying patients and caregivers. These include baked goods, beverages, chocolates and other edibles made using cannabis oil or butter sourced from licensed manufacturers, as well as lotions, soaps, ointments and prerolls.
The legislation places several guardrails on the new endorsement. Products must be prepared, tested, packaged and labeled in accordance with district law and mayoral rules, and all items must be shelf-stable. Retailers would be prohibited from manufacturing transdermal patches or extracting cannabinoids, including the use of butane or other explosive gases.
The bill also limits how much space and raw material can be devoted to on-site preparation. No more than 20% of a retailer’s gross floor area could be used for crafting products, and storage would be capped at 2 kilograms of medical marijuana flower and a combined 1 liter of cannabis oil and tincture. Products could only be sold directly to registered patients and caregivers, not to other retailers or wholesalers.
If ultimately approved by the full council and signed into law, the measure would take effect following mayoral approval and the required period of congressional review.
The Committee of the Whole referral signals that the council is moving the proposal forward, with additional debate and potential amendments likely before any final vote.