Washington, D.C. Mayor Proposes Partnerships Between Medical Cannabis Companies and Breweries

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) last week introduced a bill that would allow local breweries to partner with licensed medical cannabis manufacturers to produce cannabis-infused beverages. 

“This is an opportunity to support two local industries and to keep business in DC. We have fantastic local brewers and distillers in our city, we have a robust medical cannabis market, and this is a new opportunity for those two markets to collaborate and create a safe and smoke-free alternative for patients in DC.” — Bowser in a press release 

The proposal would also allow a license endorsement for breweries and distilleries to manufacture cannabis-infused products and an endorsement for medical cannabis manufacturers to import non-intoxicating cannabinoids for use in production. 

Under the plan, all products would be subject to mandatory testing and would be alcohol-free. The products would only be sold at licensed dispensaries and would be available only to registered medical cannabis patients.  

In a statement, Fred Moosally, director of the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration, said the proposal “makes sense.”  

“Providing a legal pathway for our local breweries and distilleries to utilize their expertise in beverage production is the logical next step in maturing DC’s medical cannabis marketplace and supporting our local business ecosystem,” he said.  

According to the legislation fact sheet, the beverages would be subject to a 6% sales tax, which would be deposited into the District’s General Fund.