High Demand DC Cannabis Dispensary & Weed Delivery FAQ

Answers to questions about DC cannabis laws, medical dispensaries, and weed delivery.

DC Cannabis Basics

Shopping at High Demand DC

Weed Delivery in Washington, DC

Payments, Taxes & Deals

Product Safety, Dosing & Privacy

Understanding DC's I-71 Gifting Market & The Harris Rider

1. DC Cannabis Basics

 

Yes — but how it’s legal is unusual.
 
• Adults 21+ can legally possess up to 2 ounces of cannabis, grow plants at home, and gift small amounts under Initiative 71.
• Retail sales are only legal through licensed medical cannabis dispensaries.
• High Demand DC is a fully licensed medical retailer, not a gray-market “gifting” shop.

Yes. DC requires a valid medical cannabis registration to purchase from licensed dispensaries.

Good news:
• DC residents 21+ can self-certify online — no doctor visit required.
• Non-DC visitors can:
→ Register for a temporary visitor medical card (3–365 days), or
→ Use an out-of-state medical card from a reciprocity state.

Your digital card is emailed and can usually be used within minutes.

Yes — if you are 21+ and have:
• A temporary DC patient registration, or
• A valid medical card from a reciprocity state/territory

Temporary non-resident medical card fees:
• 3 days – $10
• 30 days – $20
• 90 days – $50
• 180 days – $75
• 365 days – $100

Registration is fast and digital.

For DC residents 21+:

1. Visit the ABCA Medical Cannabis Portal
2. Select Adult Patient Application
3. Choose Self-Certification
4. Upload:
• A government-issued ID
• Simple face photo
• Proof of residency if needed
5. Submit and receive a digital registration you can use right away.

DC residents may apply for patient registration to be eligible to purchase cannabis from any of DC’s licensed retailers. DC allows for self-attestation, no doctor’s note required! Upon submission of an application, applicants receive a temporary digital registration that allows them to purchase cannabis for up to 30-days while their application is under review. The whole process takes around 5-10 minutes.

You can request a physical DC medical cannabis card by filling out the application through ABCA. Mail or drop-off in-person: ABCA, Medical Cannabis Program, 899 North Capitol Street, NE, Suite 4200-A, Washington, DC 20002, or email: ABCA.CannabisInfo@dc.gov.

Registered medical patients can purchase up to 8 ounces of cannabis (any form) in a rolling 30-day period, combined across all licensed dispensaries.

Our system automatically tracks this for you.

Legal:
• Inside private residences
• Private property with the owner’s permission

Not legal:
• Sidewalks, parks, streets
• Bars, clubs, restaurants
• Hotels that prohibit smoking
• Metro, National Mall, museums
• Any federal property

Always keep use discreet and private in DC.

Medical cannabis card patient records are completely confidential and stored with DC’s ABCA, the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration. The only way this information can be accessed is via a court order and is not on any publicly available lists.

2. Shopping at High Demand DC

 

511 11th St SE, Washington, DC 20003

In the heart of Capitol Hill / Eastern Market, right off I-395, making us one of the most convenient locations for Maryland and Virginia patients visiting DC.

Bring:
• A valid photo ID

One of the following:
• DC medical cannabis card (digital or physical)
• Temporary DC visitor registration
• Out-of-state medical card (reciprocity)

Digital cards on your phone are fully accepted.

A medical dispensary in Washington, D.C. is a legally authorized and licensed establishment where qualified patients with medical cannabis cards can purchase medicinal marijuana products for therapeutic purposes. These dispensaries are regulated by DC’s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) and are required to adhere to strict guidelines regarding the sale of medical cannabis.

High Demand DC Weed Dispensary & Delivery is a licensed medical cannabis retailer located in Capitol Hill/Eastern Market Neighborhood of Washington, DC. Our license and delivery and tasting endorsement were issued by DC’s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA).

We offer one of the largest menus in Washington, DC, including:

• Flower
• Pre-rolls (classic & infused)
• Vape carts & disposables
• Edibles & beverages
• Concentrates (shatter, live resin, rosin, wax)
• Tinctures & sublinguals
• Topicals & wellness products

All products come from licensed, lab-tested DC cultivators only.

Prices range from $8 to $360, depending on product and potency.

Yes. Every product sold in licensed DC dispensaries must be:

• Lab-tested
• Trackable through DC’s seed-to-sale system
• Compliant with medical cannabis regulations

We do not sell unregulated or untested products.

Absolutely. Our staff helps patients navigate:

• Effects (sleep, pain, relaxation, focus)
• THC/CBD ratios
• Terpene profiles
• Edible vs. inhaled vs. tincture onset times
• Proper dosing for beginners

We provide guidance — not medical diagnosis.

3. Weed Delivery in Washington, DC

Yes. High Demand DC provides same-day medical cannabis delivery anywhere within Washington, DC.

We deliver throughout Washington DC:

WASHINGTON DC (DELIVERY AVAILABLE):
Capitol Hill, Eastern Market, Lincoln Park, H Street NE, Hill East, Stanton Park, Navy Yard, NoMa, Union Market, Penn Quarter, Chinatown, Downtown DC, Judiciary Square, Mount Vernon Triangle, Shaw, Bloomingdale, Eckington, Trinidad, Ivy City, Brookland, Edgewood, The Wharf, Southwest Waterfront, Buzzard Point, Logan Circle, Dupont Circle, U Street, Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights, National Mall / Tourist Zone

⚠️ VIRGINIA & MARYLAND — PICKUP ONLY (No Delivery):
Due to DC law, we cannot deliver outside District boundaries. However, patients from Virginia and Maryland are welcome for in-store pickup or curbside pickup at our Capitol Hill location (511 11th St SE).

VIRGINIA (Pickup Available):
Arlington, Crystal City, Pentagon City, Rosslyn, Clarendon, Ballston, Courthouse, Old Town Alexandria, Del Ray, Eisenhower Ave, King Street, Falls Church, Tysons, McLean, Annandale, West Falls Church, Springfield, Franconia, Bailey’s Crossroads, National Landing

MARYLAND (Pickup Available):
Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Hyattsville, Riverdale Park, College Park, Mount Rainier, Brentwood, Bladensburg, Landover, Lanham, Greenbelt, Capitol Heights, Forestville, Suitland, District Heights, Oxon Hill, Temple Hills, Camp Springs, Upper Marlboro, Fort Washington

• Delivery Hours: 9 AM – 9 PM daily
• Order Minimum: $50
• Delivery Fee: $5 for orders $50–$100 (Free on orders over $100)

Minimum and delivery fees are shown at checkout.

Most deliveries arrive in 15-45 minutes, depending on:

• Traffic
• Order volume
• Weather
• Distance from our shop

We provide live ETAs as soon as your order is on the way.

No. DC requires:

• The registered patient to be present
• ID + medical registration verified at the door

Drivers cannot leave cannabis with neighbors, front desks, or unattended.

The order can only be picked up by the same person whose medical ID is used for purchase. If you are a designated caregiver to a patient, please shop with your caregiver medical ID.
You can shop with us online for express pickup or delivery! You can also visit our retail location at 511 11th St SE, Washington, DC. We operate Monday through Sunday from 9AM to 9PM.
You can absolutely place an order for online pickup or request delivery. Browse our live menu and place an order for in-store pickup from 9am–9pm, or get same-day cannabis delivery anywhere in Washington, DC from 9am–9pm. Please upload your medical card and ID in the delivery portal — and if you don’t have a medical card, you can self-certify online through ABCA in just a few minutes. Need help? Call us anytime and our team will assist you.

4. Payments, Taxes & Deals

We accept:
• Credit Card (3% fee)
• Debit Card ($3.50 fee)
• Cash
• Cashless ATM
• Dutchie Pay

Note: Tap-to-pay and Apple Pay are not accepted.

Yes. DC assesses a 6% medical cannabis sales tax on purchases.

Occasionally, DC offers tax-holiday events during April as part of patient appreciation.

Yes:

• 20% off your first and second visits
• Weekly and holiday specials
• Loyalty program offering up to ~12% back in rewards value
• Happy hour drops (15-30% off)

Because of DC regulations:

• No returns on opened products

Exchanges only for:
• Defective items (e.g., malfunctioning vape hardware)
• Verified product recalls

All exchanges must be in original packaging with receipt/order number.

5. Product Safety, Dosing & Privacy

General guidelines:

• Start low, go slow
• Edibles: begin with 1–2.5 mg THC
• Inhalation: 1–2 small puffs, wait 10–15 minutes
• Avoid mixing cannabis with alcohol
• Do not drive or operate machinery while impaired

Our team can help guide your first purchase.

Yes. We follow all medical privacy rules:

• We only collect what is required to verify eligibility
• We store patient records securely
• Delivery drivers use unmarked vehicles
• Orders arrive in discreet packaging

Licensed medical dispensaries (like us):
• Regulated by ABCA
• Sell tested, tracked, legal products
• Require medical registration
• Undergo inspections
• Follow strict advertising & delivery rules

Gifting shops (unlicensed I-71 storefronts):
• Historically exploited Initiative 71’s gifting clause
• Sold untested, unregulated products
• Are now being padlocked, fined, or shut down
• Not part of the licensed medical system

6. Understanding DC's I-71 Gifting Market & The Harris Rider

In 2014, DC voters passed Initiative 71, which:

• Legalized possession of up to 2 ounces
• Legalized home grow
• Allowed gifting up to 1 ounce between adults
• Paved the way for future regulated sales (which never happened)

It did not create a retail marketplace.

Because DC was blocked from creating recreational dispensaries, shops began:

• Selling overpriced items (T-shirts, art, juice)
• “Gifting” cannabis with the purchase

This created a de facto recreational market—the only one of its kind in the U.S.—but:
• Products were untested
• Shops were unlicensed
• No taxes were collected
• No consumer protections existed

Instead of letting the unregulated market grow indefinitely, DC chose to:

• Expand medical access (self-certification, visitors)
• Allow gifting shops to convert into licensed medical operators
• Increase inspections and padlock illegal stores
• Build a safer, regulated marketplace focused on medical patients

Since 2014, Congress has repeatedly added the Harris Rider to DC’s federal budget.

The Harris Rider:
• Blocks DC from using any of its own local funds
• To create or regulate a recreational cannabis market
• Prevents DC from issuing adult-use licenses
• Stops DC from taxing recreational cannabis
• Stops DC from establishing rules, packaging standards, or retail regulations for rec sales

This means:
• Adults can possess and gift cannabis
• But DC cannot open recreational stores
• Only medical dispensaries are legal
• The District’s hands are tied until Congress removes the rider

DC is the only jurisdiction in America with legal adult possession without the ability to legally regulate recreational sales.

Why Choose a Licensed Dispensary?

Choosing a licensed dispensary like High Demand DC means safer products, clearer rules, and more protection for you as a patient. All our products are lab-tested, tracked through DC's seed-to-sale system, and compliant with medical cannabis regulations. We do not sell unregulated or untested products.

7. Still Have Questions?

High Demand DC Weed Dispensary & Delivery is committed to providing safe, legal, convenient cannabis access to every registered patient in the District. Our team is here to help!

Disclaimer: This FAQ is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Cannabis laws vary and are subject to change. Always verify current regulations with official DC government sources. High Demand DC is a licensed medical cannabis dispensary operating in compliance with DC law.