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Cancer and cannabis in District of Columbia

The state explicitly lists this condition under its medical cannabis program. A certifying physician can pursue state registration for a patient with this diagnosis under the program rules.

Listed qualifying condition
✓ Yes
LEGAL
Up to 8 oz over any 30-…
POSSESSION
$100/yr
STATE FEE
1–21 d
TIMELINE
Listed qualifying condition. The state explicitly lists this condition under its medical cannabis program. A certifying physician can pursue state registration for a patient with this diagnosis under the program rules.

District of Columbia statute and program

The District of Columbia Medical Cannabis Program is the operating authority for District of Columbia patient certification. The authoritative legal text is: D.C. Official Code §7-1671.01 et seq.: Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Treatment Initiative Act. The program portal is at District of Columbia Medical Cannabis Program.

What the evidence says about cannabis and Cancer

Cancer is a group of more than 100 diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. Treatment commonly combines surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and increasingly targeted or immunotherapeutic agents. Symptom burden (pain, nausea, appetite loss, sleep disruption, anxiety) is substantial and often persists beyond active treatment.

For the full evidence base, including the NASEM tier, randomized trial summaries, and symptom-domain breakdown, read the mmjnow Cancer page.

How to qualify in District of Columbia

The District of Columbia Medical Cannabis Program requires the following registration steps for a Cancer patient (or any qualifying diagnosis):

  1. Self-certification or physician recommendation. Since the 2022 Medical Cannabis Amendment Act, adults 21 and older may self-certify residency and need for medical cannabis without a physician recommendation. Patients under 21 (or anyone preferring the physician path) must obtain a written recommendation from a DC-licensed physician, dentist, APRN, naturopath, or PA registered with the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA).
  2. Apply through the ABCA online portal. Applications are submitted electronically through the ABCA medical cannabis program portal. Applicants upload a government-issued photo ID (out-of-district IDs accepted under DC reciprocity), proof of residency if applicable, and the physician recommendation when going the certified-patient route.
  3. Pay the registration fee and receive the card. The DC patient registration fee is $100 for one year or $200 for two years; reduced fees of $25 / $50 apply for patients enrolled in Medicaid, SSI, SSDI, or other public assistance under the Medical Cannabis Equity Act. Temporary digital cards are typically issued within several business days; physical cards arrive by mail within roughly two to three weeks.
  4. Purchase from licensed DC medical cannabis dispensaries. DC operates a medical-only retail market (Congress has historically blocked adult-use sales via the Harris Rider appropriations restriction). DC honors out-of-state medical cannabis registrations under its reciprocity statute, so visitors with valid medical registration from any US state may purchase from DC dispensaries with their out-of-state card and ID.
State registration fee
$100
Physician visit (typical)
$0–$200
Certification to card
1–21 days
Out-of-state patients
Eligible
Minors
Eligible with caregiver

For full District of Columbia registration steps, fees, and reciprocity rules, see the District of Columbia cannabis-laws page.

ICD-10 code

A certifying physician documenting Cancer for the District of Columbia medical cannabis program will typically record ICD-10 C80.1 or SNOMED-CT 363346000 in the patient's record. The state registry does not itself collect ICD-10 codes in most programs, but the physician's chart is the audit trail if the certification is later reviewed.

Frequently asked questions

Does District of Columbia list Cancer as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis?

Yes. District of Columbia explicitly lists Cancer as a qualifying condition under District of Columbia Medical Cannabis Program. A patient with a documented Cancer diagnosis can pursue state-program certification with a physician registered in the state. The qualifying-condition list is published by the state at https://abca.dc.gov/page/medical-cannabis-program and may change as regulators add, remove, or refine entries. Inclusion on the list does not guarantee certification — a physician still has to evaluate the patient and decide that medical cannabis is appropriate for that specific case under District of Columbia rules.

How do I get a District of Columbia medical marijuana card for Cancer?

Step one is finding a physician licensed in District of Columbia who is registered with District of Columbia Medical Cannabis Program and willing to evaluate Cancer cases. Step two is collecting your records (diagnosis documentation, treatment history, and the ICD-10 code your physician will use) and bringing them to the certification visit. Step three is the physician's certification through the state registry, followed by the patient registration application, state fee, and waiting period before the card is issued. District of Columbia honors out-of-state medical cards under its reciprocity rules — uncommon, and worth verifying before relying on it. Verify the patient minimum age with the state program before applying. The authoritative source for the current process is the District of Columbia Medical Cannabis Program site at https://abca.dc.gov/page/medical-cannabis-program; the state updates fees, forms, and physician registration rules periodically.

What does the evidence say about cannabis for Cancer?

For Cancer, evidence is described as moderate (supportive controlled studies exist but the picture is mixed). The mmjnow condition page for Cancer lays out the current evidence base, including the citations underlying that evidence tier — typically the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine consensus reports, federal agency guidance, and peer-reviewed reviews. Evidence quality is independent of state law: a state can list a condition for which evidence is limited, and a state can decline to list a condition for which evidence is strong. Patients deciding whether to pursue medical cannabis for Cancer should review the underlying evidence (linked on the condition page) and discuss expected benefit, dosing, and risk with a clinician familiar with both Cancer and cannabinoid pharmacology. Cannabis is not a substitute for evidence-based first-line treatments for Cancer; the evidence position above describes whether trial data supports its use, not whether it should replace standard care.

Sources

  1. D.C. Official Code §7-1671.01 et seq.: Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Treatment Initiative Actaccessed May 16, 2026
  2. Initiative 71 (2014): Marijuana Legalization Initiativeaccessed May 16, 2026
  3. D.C. Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration: Medical Cannabis Programaccessed May 16, 2026
  4. Wikipedia: Cannabis in the District of Columbiaaccessed May 16, 2026
  5. NASEM: The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids (2017)accessed May 15, 2026

    “Conclusive or substantial evidence that oral cannabinoids are effective antiemetics in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.”

  6. NIH National Cancer Institute: Cannabis and Cannabinoids (PDQ)accessed May 15, 2026