The mayor of Washington, D.C. is proposing to allow medical marijuana companies to partner with local breweries and distilleries to produce cannabis-infused, alcohol-free drinks for sale in the nation’s capital.
Under the partnership contemplated by the Medical Cannabis Beverage Product Amendment Act of 2026 proposed by Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), alcohol companies could apply for a medical cannabis production endorsement at a cost of $500 a year to manufacture cannabis beverages, and medical marijuana companies could apply for a $1,000 annual endorsement to import cannabinoids for production.
All beverages would have to be tested by a locally licensed laboratory, and there would be a six percent sales tax on the drinks.
“This is an opportunity to support two local industries and to keep business in D.C.,” Bowser said in a press release. “We have fantastic local brewers and distillers in our city, we have a robust medical cannabis market, and this is a new opportunity for those two markets to collaborate and create a safe and smoke-free alternative for patients in D.C.”
Breweries and distilleries would not be able to sell the cannabis beverages directly to consumers, and finished products would instead go to partnering medical marijuana manufacturers for testing and distribution.
Sales would be limited to registered medical cannabis patients via dispensaries, and the drinks would not be available for purchase in bars, restaurants, liquor stores and grocery stores.
“It makes sense to allow partnerships between the District’s medical cannabis and alcohol manufacturing industries to produce medical cannabis beverages,” Fred Moosally, Director of the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration, said. “Providing a legal pathway for our local breweries and distilleries to utilize their expertise in beverage production is the logical next step in maturing D.C.’s medical cannabis marketplace and supporting our local business ecosystem.”
A press release from the mayor’s office said that the proposal “works to solve manufacturing challenges for the medical cannabis industry while providing an additional revenue stream for D.C.’s local craft beverage producers.”
“By utilizing the existing local bottling infrastructure, D.C. will expand the available smoke-free therapeutic options for medical cannabis patients, provide an additional revenue stream for local industry, and continue growing the District’s economy,” it said.
The legislation is now before the Council of the District of Columbia for consideration.
While Congress has continually blocked D.C. from legalizing recreational marijuana sales with an annually approved rider, local officials have worked to expand access through the existing medical cannabis market by, for example, by allowing residents and even visiting tourists to self-certify without the need for doctors’ recommendations.
