Quick answer
Marijuana in District of Columbia: Recreational + medical legal. Washington, D.C. legalized adult-use marijuana in 2014 via Initiative 71. Adults 21 and older may possess up to two ounces and grow up to six plants at home, but there is no regulated retail market. Employers may still enforce drug-free workplace policies and test employees.
Key facts
- Recreational marijuana legal since 2014.
- Medical marijuana legal since 2010.
- Adults may typically possess up to 2 oz.
- Home cultivation permitted.
Workplace testing
D.C. allows workplace drug testing and employers may act on positive results. Because there is no regulated retail market, possession is legal but purchase is not; a medical card does not provide blanket protection from testing.
D.C. does not broadly protect off-duty cannabis use in employment; federal and local employers may still enforce drug-free workplace policies and test.
Detection & panels
See how long substances stay detectable in our detection chart, compare standard panels, or use the test finder. Local testing locations in District of Columbia are listed on the District of Columbia drug testing page.
Frequently asked questions
Is marijuana legal in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia status: Recreational + medical legal. Washington, D.C. legalized adult-use marijuana in 2014 via Initiative 71. Adults 21 and older may possess up to two ounces and grow up to six plants at home, but there is no regulated retail market. Employers may still enforce drug-free workplace policies and test employees.
Can an employer in District of Columbia drug test me?
D.C. allows workplace drug testing and employers may act on positive results. Because there is no regulated retail market, possession is legal but purchase is not; a medical card does not provide blanket protection from testing.
Does a medical card protect me from testing in District of Columbia?
D.C. does not broadly protect off-duty cannabis use in employment; federal and local employers may still enforce drug-free workplace policies and test.