The D.C. Council voted unanimously this week to approve legislation extending the term of conditional medical cannabis licenses, aiming to give new operators more time to open and comply with regulatory requirements.
Introduced by Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, the bill responds to challenges faced by conditional license holders who have struggled to secure locations and complete build-outs before their licenses expired. McDuffie noted that many businesses cited difficulties finding suitable properties and financing within the existing time frame. The introductory letter first stated that licenses would be extended to four years, an additional 48 months, but the legislation that passed gives conditional licensees another 12 months to open.
The legislation applies retroactively to June 28, 2025 — the date the first conditional licenses were set to expire — ensuring that current applicants do not lose eligibility while finalizing their operations.
During the session, McDuffie highlighted the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration’s ongoing enforcement efforts, which have closed 71 unlicensed cannabis establishments as of September 10. Those closures, he said, have contributed to a record breaking revenue high of $5.4 million in April this year in the legal medical cannabis sales.
The number of licensed medical cannabis retailers in D.C. has grown from seven to 64 since the regulatory expansion began, with eight operating cultivation centers, and 10 cultivation centers now approved to meet increased demand. The measure passed without opposition.
The current growth of legal cannabis businesses has not been supported by the market, leaving some current retailers concerned about over saturation.
