We’re very excited to report that the 30-day purchase limit for D.C. medical marijuana patients has now been raised from 2 to 4 ounces. Following approval by two expert advisory committees, the rule change was submitted to the Director of the Department of Health, who agreed with their findings. Capital City Care staff and patients testified in favor of the rule change at multiple hearings and we’re delighted to see it finally become a reality.
The increased purchase limit has been highly anticipated by patients in the medical marijuana program, many of whom were unable to obtain an adequate supply under the original threshold. The previous limit of 2 ounces every 30 days meant that patients who required more than 2 grams per day to treat their symptoms would sometimes be unable to obtain cannabis from the dispensary. It was not uncommon for patients to have to wait several days until previous purchases no longer fell within the 30-day window, allowing them to make a new purchase.
Patients at Capital City Care suffer from a range of health conditions, with many reporting that other medications haven’t worked well for them. Although the previous purchase limit only affected some patients, its impact fell hardest on those who needed medical marijuana the most. Recent data showing that death rates from opioid overdoses fell in states with medical marijuana laws helps to illustrate the potential public health benefits regulated dispensaries can deliver.
Over the past 3 years, we’ve had the honor of helping people in pain improve their quality of life. The relationships we’ve formed with our patients give us new insights every day into the importance of this treatment option. We’re deeply grateful to the patients and public health professionals who’ve continued to support important improvements to the medical marijuana program, and we look forward to working together in the years to come.
Click here for more information about upcoming changes in D.C.’s medical marijuana program.