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A RESOLUTION
25-166
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
June 6, 2023
To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to provide that the five
cultivation center registration applicants that scored 150 points or more after submitting a
medical cannabis facility registration to the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board
during the open application period that occurred between November 29, 2021 and March
28, 2022, shall be considered for a manufacturer license.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “Medical Cannabis Manufacturer Clarification Emergency
Declaration Resolution of 2023”.
Sec. 2. (a) There exists an immediate need to increase medical cannabis product
availability in the District and provide that the 5 cultivation center registration applicants that
submitted medical cannabis facility registration applications to the Alcoholic Beverage and
Cannabis Board between November 29, 2021 and March 28, 2022, (“open application period”)
that scored 150 points or more be considered for a manufacturer license.
(b) During the open application period for a cultivation center registration, the medical
cannabis manufacturer license category did not exist in the District. Prior to March 22, 2023, a
cultivation center registration was required to manufacture medical cannabis products in the
District. A number of cultivation center applicants that scored 150 points or more applied to the
Board with the intention of manufacturing medical cannabis products as part of their business
plan.
(c) On March 22, 2023, the Medical Cannabis Amendment Act of 2023, effective March
22, 2023 (D.C. Law 24-332; 70 DCR 4303), took effect, which requires a medical cannabis
business to obtain a manufacturer license to manufacture and sell medical cannabis products for
resale.
(d) Four of the 5 cultivation center registration applicants that scored 150 points or more
as a result of the open application period have been designated by the Department of Small and
Local Business Development as a Medical Cannabis Certified Business Enterprise with an equity
impact enterprise certification subcategory.
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(e) With the open application period for unlicensed establishments, including retailer and
internet retailer applications, beginning on November 1, 2023, it is imperative that the District
increase the production and the availability of medical cannabis products in the District.
Consequently, it is necessary for the Council to pass the underlying legislation on an emergency
basis.
Sec. 3. The Council determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute
emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Medical Cannabis Manufacturer
Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2023 be adopted after a single reading.
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.