D.C.'s Cannabis Market Sees Surge in Out-of-State Patients Amid Self-Certification Boom
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Washington, D.C.'s cannabis market is experiencing a major transformation, fueled by a sharp increase in out-of-state medical cannabis patients. Thanks to the District's unique self-certification model, which allows individuals to register as medical cannabis patients without requiring approval from a healthcare provider, more non-residents are crossing state lines to take advantage of D.C.'s more accessible system.
While D.C. residents still made up the majority of medical cannabis purchasers in May 2025, the gap between local and out-of-state buyers is narrowing quickly. The most significant growth comes from the self-certified patient category, which has seen a staggering 435% year-over-year increase. Self-certified patients now account for 41% of all cannabis purchases in the District—an unprecedented figure that highlights a fundamental shift in how patients are accessing cannabis.
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