(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the District of Columbia Department of Health (DOH) announced modifications to the Medical Marijuana Program that will work to improve patient access, remove potential barriers and spur innovation in the District’s medical program.

Included in the modifications is a proposed rulemaking change that will increase the quantity of medical marijuana that a patient may receive in a 30-day period from two (2) ounces to four (4) ounces. This change comes as a result of recommendations made to DOH by the Intergovernmental and Scientific Subcommittee after examining the effectiveness of the District’s current medical marijuana program and hearing from patients and health providers.

“We are committed to building a safe, high-quality medical marijuana program that meets the needs of patients without unduly burdening patients and providers,” said Mayor Bowser. “As such, we are excited to make improvements that will enhance the effectiveness of our program by aligning it with best practices and allow us to better meet the need of our residents and the growth of the medical marijuana industry.”

The increase has been approved by Mayor Bowser and the proposed change will be posted in the District of Columbia Register for public comment on September 30, 2016.  All regulatory changes to the District’s Medical Marijuana Program regulations also require approval by the DC Council.

Additionally, DOH will create a separate division within their agency devoted to advancing science, technology and innovation in the fast-paced field of medical marijuana. This new division will provide services and oversight to patients, health professionals, providers, cultivation centers and dispensaries.

Over the coming months, DOH will propose additional regulatory and legislative changes to improve the Medical Marijuana Program. To learn more about the District’s Medical Marijuana Program, click HERE.