Washington DC Unveils its Plans for Medical Marijuana Regulations

Washington DC gets ready for medical marijuana dispensaries

Medical Marijuana has traveled a long road in Washington DC and the programs is finally going to begin on January 1st of next year, according to a draft by Mayor Adrian Fenty. The draft rules were announced on Friday and under the planned regulations, the City Health Department would be responsible for registering applicants. But in a twist that is a first in medical marijuana programs in the US, the licensing and oversight of the facilitates that will grow and distribute medical cannabis would be handled by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board and its enforcement arm, the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration. Some activists in the DC area are voicing concerns that the message they have been trying to achieve is to recognize cannabis as a medical treatment, not just a drug for recreational use. Wayne Turner who co-wrote the 1998 initiative told the Washington Post he was completely blind-sided by addition of roles for the alcohol regulators, saying that “the liquor board is completely inappropriate to run this program”. One of the DC Council members, David Catania said his preference would be for the health department, which regulates pharmacies, to oversee the program.

Ultimately, it was the decision of the Attorney General, Peter Nickles who said that the liquor regulators are most ready for the challenge of overseeing challenge of the new program. He said that the alcohol regulators of the city do a terrific job of enforcement and inspection, and after talking with them, felt that they would do a good job. Charles Brodsky, chairman of the alcohol board agreed with him. He sees that it is a better fit because regulating marijuana is so different from regulating prescription drugs. On Friday, he said that he and other board members have spent 100’s of hours researching regulations from across the country. No doubt they found in their research that the program will be a major revenue generator for the city budget. Five dispensaries will pay $10,000 a year and up to 10 cultivation centers that would be allowed to grow 95 plants each will pay $5000 each. Yearly registration of a medical marijuana user or caregiver will cost $100. A subsidy for those living under the poverty level will be paid by a 2% revenue tax. Users will only be allowed to use medical marijuana in thier home or a medical facility where they reside if allowed. The new rules also give the chief of police power to call for a 96 hour shut down command if a dispensary is deemed a threat to public health or safety, much like the authority for the alcohol board to shut down a night club. None of the new regulations are written in stone just yet, with their announcement on Friday, begins a 45 day review period.