Nevin Martell

Cannabis culture in D.C. is booming, even if the laws are still playing catch-up. Thanks to Initiative 71, adults 21-plus can legally possess and gift marijuana, but retail sales are still technically banned (blame Congress). That’s why most “recreational” dispensaries in the city don’t actually sell weed, they gift it with the purchase of something else, like art prints or stickers. Quirky? Yes. Confusing? A little. Legal? Still very much a gray area. There are also fully licensed medical dispensaries, which now accept self-certified patients—so yes, D.C. residents can register online and shop same-day without a doctor’s note. Whether you’re picking up pre-rolls from a sleek downtown boutique or scoring edibles at a neighborhood spot with serious chill, these are the best dispensaries in D.C. right now—gifting, medical, and everything in between. RECOMMENDED: The best bars in D.C.