Washington, D.C.’s medical cannabis market moderated in August following July’s record-breaking $10.6 million high, while overall market trajectory remains up nearly 20% year-over-year.
Data released in the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration’s (ABCA) August 2026 report shows program-wide revenue dipping to $9,846,506—a 7.2% decline from July’s $10,605,830 peak, but a strong 19.4% jump compared to August 2025’s $8,245,291 total.
Supply-Chain & Retail Overview
The month-over-month decline was reflected across all tiers of the District’s cannabis supply chain, even as active retail storefronts rose slightly from 65 to 66:
- Dispensaries: Retail sales generated $6,489,456, down 1.7% from July’s $6,601,905.
- Cultivation Centers: Reached $686,460 in sales, down 24.1% from $903,955 in July.
- Manufacturers: Grossed $2,670,590, down 13.9% from $3,099,970 in July.
Year-over-year, dispensary revenue expanded 19.1%, while combined wholesale cultivation and manufacturing sales grew 20.0% compared to August 2025.
Patient Base Reaches 143,000
Total registered D.C. resident patients expanded to 143,556 in August, up from 136,882 in July. Among registered residents, 25,005 unique patients made a purchase during the month, averaging $58 per transaction across 69,635 unique sales.
Out-of-state visitors continued to serve as a key revenue driver, though temporary registrations slowed slightly:
- Temporary Self-Certified Patients: 12,144 visitors registered in August (down from 12,599 in July), with 13,553 unique buyers spending $1,973,150. Virginia led temporary registrations at 4,334, followed by Maryland (1,740) and North Carolina (834).
- Reciprocity Patients: Non-residents utilizing state-level reciprocity accounted for 2,233 purchasing patients and $453,559 in total sales, with Maryland (899) and Virginia (815) making up the vast majority.
Flower and Vapes Top Product Categories
Usable flower and bud retained the largest market share by value, generating $3,307,385 on 726 pounds sold.
- Vape Cartridges: $1,194,800 (23,779 units)
- Infused Edibles: $782,223 (22,960 units)
- Raw Pre-Rolls: $727,825 (121 lbs)
- Infused Concentrates: $134,252 (2,421 units)
Enforcement Activity Moderates
ABCA compliance activity remained steady in August. Regulators reported zero observed violations, zero facility closures, and zero unlicensed facilities closed. Destroyed cannabis waste fell to 1,440 pounds, down from 1,775 pounds in July. Scheduled inspections moderated slightly to 19 for the month.
