Your search for the best weed dispensary in DC is over!
Cannabis culture has taken a stronghold in Washington, DC. Both recreational users and medical cardholders can enjoy a vast selection of cannabis flowers, weed edibles, and cannabis concentrates.
Finding weed in DC is fairly easy.
There are medical marijuana dispensaries as well as marijuana gift curators (“recreational” dispensaries that are not licensed dispensary). You’ll quickly find yourself overwhelmed when you Google “weed dispensary dc!” With so much selection to choose from, here is our ranking of the best DC weed dispensaries in 2022.
Washington DC Dispensaries: What is an I-71 Dispensary DC?
The DC cannabis market has exploded since the dc council’s passage of Initiative 71 (I71). This legislation made it legal to possess and grow marijuana in Washington DC.
It prohibits the sale of marijuana, so DC does not have recreational marijuana dispensaries like you would find in Colorado, Oregon, or California.
However, it is legal to gift weed in DC. When we talk about DC weed dispensaries, we’re referring to cannabis gifting services. These “dispensaries” don’t actually sell weed. They sell things like collector cards or artwork and then allow you to pick a free weed gift as a “thank you.”
I71 dispensaries include storefronts and delivery services. Weed delivery services have become the most popular ways to get weed gifts in DC.
These are not licensed dispensaries; they are gift curators. When shopping at a DC dispensary, don’t ever ask to buy marijuana or you could get turned away. Instead, ask to buy a collector card or other item and then request the marijuana gift as your choice. Remember- weed is a “gift,” not the item you are purchasing!
Best Washington DC Weed Dispensaries
When shopping for weed in DC, there are some dispensaries that are great for day-to-day weed delivery needs, and others that stand out for being unique places to check out in person.
When ranking the best DC weed dispensaries, there are several factors to consider. We evaluated top-reviewed DC dispensaries for product selection, price, quality, and reputation to give you a short list of where to shop! We’ll break things down by medical vs recreational cannabis and let you know who stands out.
Top 3 DC Recreational Dispensaries
Our top three DC recreational dispensaries have all established great reputations with DC tokers. These marijuana gifting services offer convenience and reliability along with fantastic gift options.
#1 Sugar Ray’s the DC Dispensary on Wheels!
Looking for the best DC dispensary and the best weed delivery service? Sugar Ray’s in known for great customer care, great products, and fast service. They offer convenient online ordering and delivery in just and hour or two. Sugar Ray’s DC has a five-star rating on Google Reviews with customer reviews that sing praises like,
“Great customer service, great delivery time, and great guy running it. Have nothing but great things to say about this service and the delivery man. Definitely shop here, highest quality and best deals in DC for sure.”
They sell collectors cards at great prices, most ranging from $50 to $70 and offer a wide range of marijuana gifts. You can choose from their top-shelf cannabis flower, edibles like Baghead Boys gummies or Georgetown Kushcake Truffles, and they also offer concentrates and vapes.
#2 Gifted Curators DC: The Best Dispensary in DC for Art
A very cool place to check out is Gifted Curators DC. They are a street art gallery and I-71 marijuana dispensary that also hosts events like DJ sessions. While Sugar Ray’s is great for marijuana gift delivery, Gifted Curators is a very unique dispensary that you’ll want to check out in-person. They have a stellar 4.9-star Google rating and offer very good variety and price.
#3 Street Lawyer Services is a DC Dispensary with Local Fame
Street Lawyer Services is a DC dispensary with a solid 4.5-star Google rating, and locations in Miami and New York City as well as DC. However, their website is a hot mess. Still, locals are loving this dispensary. They offer free delivery on orders over $149, and also have in-store service. Owner Lonny Bramzon has become a well-known personality. He is a criminal defense lawyer and radio personality that guest hosts on DC101’s Klinger show. Like Sugar Ray’s and Gifted Curators, this DC dispensary is unique and stands out among the rest!
Top 3 DC Medical Cannabis Dispensaries in Washington DC
Cannabis sales at a medical marijuana dispensary are legal for medical marijuana patients. Unlike a marijuana gifting service, you are purchasing the cannabis product directly. A DC medical cannabis patient has some great options to choose from. However, some patients still opt to use gifting services because recreational marijuana tends to have a lager variety of strains available and other cannabis products to try.
#1 National Holistic Healing Center- Best Dispensary in DC for Medical Patients
National Holistic Healing Center is a top-rated medical dispensary serving DC patients. They are a great place to find cannabis education, exotic medical cannabis strains, edibles, concentrates, and topicals. Their selection of topicals is very impressive with everything from creams and salves to cannabis suppositories and cannabis-infused personal lubricants. Their website is great and can help walk you through the steps to getting a medical marijuana card in DC. After getting your card, you can shop all of their wonderful products!
#2 $250 Ounce Deals at Capital City Care Medical Weed Dispensary in DC
Looking for a DC medical cannabis dispensary with great prices? Capital City Care is a great option if you are looking for value. Their cannabis flower prices start around $56 per eighth of weed (3.5g) but they also offer great cannabis sales like $250 ounces.
#3 Takoma Wellness Center is a Local Favorite
CityPaper voters love the family-owned Takoma Wellness Center medical marijuana dispensary. Along with great deals on cannabis flower, they also offer an impressive selection of cannabis concentrates and edibles. While their flower variety doesn’t stand out, they offer great prices. Their edible menu is quite large and offers products like cannabis capsules, infused chocolates, and even infused honey! They are definitely worth trying if you are a medical marijuana patient.
Weed Shops in DC
In addition to marijuana gifting stores and shopping a medical dispensary, smoke shops are great places to find marijuana accessories. Items like pipes, bongs, dabbing tools, rolling papers, and the like tend to be marked up at dispensaries. Visiting a local DC smoke shop lets you shop a wider variety of items at a better price. Here are some local head shops to check out for great marijuana accessories:
Dispensaries in Washington DC Versus Smoke Shops
Remember, smoke shops and head shops in DC cannot sell weed! You’ll want to shop an actual dispensary for that. Buying weed from a head shop or smoke shop in DC is illegal per DC laws, and you will not get good quality cannabis products this way. There are so many recreational dispensary options, don’t waste time and money dealing with shady operators that say they can offer you a secret deal.
Your DC Weed Dispensary Questions Answered
Washington DC has both medical marijuana dispensaries and “recreational” marijuana dispensaries where you can purchase non-weed items and get a free weed gift. Here are some common questions that people ask about DC weed dispensaries.
How much can you buy at a dispensary in Washington?
In Washington DC, adults 21 and older with a medical marijuana card can purchase up to one ounce of medical cannabis flower, sixteen ounces of cannabis edibles, seventy-two ounces of cannabis drink, or seven grams of cannabis concentrate. For those receiving weed gifts, there are no firm DC rules for possession limits except individuals only being allowed to possess up to two ounces of marijuana at a time under Initiative 71. However, most dispensaries will only gift up to one ounce of cannabis flower at a time.
Can I go to a dispensary without a card in Washington?
Yes, Washington DC residents and visitors can go to I-71 weed gifting dispensaries without a medical marijuana card. DC residents can also opt to self-certify when applying for a medical marijuana card. This means there’s no need to see a doctor. You just register and say that you intend to use the marijuana medicinally, then you’ll get a medical marijuana card that allows you to shop DC medical marijuana dispensaries.
Why do dispensaries scan ID Washington?
From Washington DC to Washington state, it is very common for dispensaries to scan IDs because it allows them to both verify your age, comply with marijuana regulations, and ensure you do not exceed daily purchase limits. Your information does not go into a federal database and is kept private. Truly, the government is not watching you buy weed. The goal is to ensure fake IDs are not being used and to ensure people are not buying excessive amounts of weed for redistribution on the black market.
What city has the most recreational dispensaries?Across the United States, there are many fantastic recreational dispensaries across the US. Denver and Las Vegas are the two cities known for having the most recreational dispensaries when compared to their population. However, the state of Oregon has the most cannabis dispensaries by capita, especially the city of Medford. You won’t need to travel that far when you shop our best DC dispensaries list!