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DC mayor signs self-certification medical marijuana bill into law

DC residents no longer need a doctor's permission to purchase medical marijuana.

WASHINGTON — Editor's Note: The attached video is about D.C.'s marijuana gifting law. It is from April 2022.

D.C.'s Mayor Bowser signed the Medical Marijuana Self-Certification Emergency Amendment Act of 2022 into law on Wednesday.

Now, residents in D.C. are able to purchase medical marijuana without a doctor's approval. This legislation allows people over the age of 21 to self-proclaim that they are using marijuana for medical purposes.  

"We know that by bringing more medical marijuana patients into the legal marketplace in a timely manner and doing more to level the playing field for licensed medical marijuana providers, we can protect residents, support local businesses, and provide clarity to the community," Bowser said.

The bill was introduced by councilmembers Mary Cheh and Kenyan McDuffie. Members of the DC Council argued that this is done to ensure better safety for people purchasing marijuana and dissuade them from getting marijuana from “gifting” shops, meaning shops that sell a product for a certain price, and then include marijuana as a "gift with purchase." The councilmembers said the new bill will help regulate the industry.  

RELATED: DC Council unanimously approves bill to legally buy medical marijuana without doctor's approval

RELATED: Virginia attorney general urges Congress to crackdown on copycat weed edibles

RELATED: DC's latest marijuana bill would protect some workers who partake in pot - Here is who is shielded

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