The cannabis scene in Washington, DC, has changed significantly over the past few years. Since the District of Columbia legalized recreational marijuana in 2014, it’s become a hub of cannabis activity.
Now, there are plenty of quality smoke shops to choose from if you know where to look.
In this guide, we’ll go over everything you should look for in a DC gift shop, and we’ve compiled a list of the best smoke shops in DC, including Legacy DC’s premium offerings.
Continue reading to find out more!
It’s never been easier to find high-quality cannabis in Washington, DC, thanks to the I-71 “gifting” culture. As a gift with your purchase, many smoke shops in the district offer cannabis products such as flower, joints, pre-rolls, edibles, and more.
However, not all smoking establishments are created equal. To find the best quality marijuana in DC, you must go to the right places.
Here are the top five cannabis shops in DC for the best cannabis shopping experience.
Legacy DC is at the top of the list, an art gallery that gifts recreational cannabis products alongside graffiti, street art, digital prints, magazines, collectibles, and more. They stock diverse free cannabis gifts, including flowers, edibles, pre-rolls, and concentrates.
At Legacy, the inventory constantly changes; each experience may yield new products to try. Whatever is available when you arrive, you can be confident that it is of the highest quality.
Legacy DC offers premium cannabis strains, potent edibles, and diamond-infused pre-rolls. Legacy DC is more than just high-quality products. They’ve created a welcoming atmosphere with beautiful art and a soothing atmosphere. Their helpful and knowledgeable staff will help you find what you need to enhance your high. Legacy is well-known for providing great customer service. They’re also fully Initiative 71 compliant, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience. This recreational dispensary does not require a medical card; only a valid 21+ ID is required.
Legacy DC is located at 1937 14th St NW, 2nd floor — just across from the U Street metro station. They’re open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Gifted Curators is one of DC’s top-rated recreational smoke shops, and it’s easy to see why. They sell digital art from local and community street artists and have an art gallery where you can browse before purchasing.
The real draw, however, is their selection of high-quality strains. They have a rotating menu that includes some of the most popular and exotic strains, all carefully chosen to include a diverse mix of Indica, Sativa, and hybrids. There are numerous premium products, ranging from flower to concentrates and everything in between.
Friendly and knowledgeable staff are on hand inside their gift shop to assist you in making the right purchase. If you’re concerned about legality, their gifting process complies with I-71. Since this is a gifting shop, it doesn’t require a medical marijuana card.
Gifted Curators is located at 2469 18th St NW. They’re open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays through Thursdays and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
The National Holistic Healing Center might look like a holistic practitioner on the surface, but there’s so much more than meets the eye. This location combines a medical marijuana smoke shop, dispensary, and health center into one. When you first walk in, you’ll notice that the space has a spa-like feel and a calming atmosphere. Their goal is to spread information and raise awareness about all of the medicinal uses of cannabis, so expect many educational materials, ranging from posters to articles. To make a cannabis purchase at this medical dispensary, you must have a medical marijuana card.
When it comes to cannabis, they have pretty much everything, including flower, edibles, topicals, pre-rolls, and concentrates. They also carry items you may not find elsewhere, such as hash, rosin, kief, and distillate syringes. In addition, they have a large selection of vape cartridges and smoking accessories to help you improve your smoking experience.
The National Holistic Healing Center is located at 1636 Connecticut Ave NW, just a few blocks from the Dupont Circle metro station. They’re open from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. every day.
Top Level DC is a smoke shop and cannabis dispensary fully compliant with DC’s gifting laws so that you can walk away with your choice of merchandise and a free cannabis gift. T-shirts, rolling trays, lighters, lanyards, and stash jars are available in their shop.
However, they have an even more impressive selection of cannabis products, particularly edibles, and concentrates. They also have a good selection of flowers divided into tiers based on quality and price. That means there’s something for everyone, whether you have high-end tastes or prefer something more affordable. If you want something other than THC, they have an entire section of hemp-based products, ranging from beverages to face masks.
They have even more gear and smoking accessories right by the checkout counter to round out your order.
Top Level DC is located at 3715 Macomb St NW, Suite 201. They’re open every day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Now that you have a few great places in mind let’s run through some things you should look for in a recreational head shop.
Of course, a good head shop must have a diverse product selection. A more extensive menu is beneficial but it can be a smaller selection. They should have a carefully crafted lineup with various high-quality cannabis products.
Whether you’re a novice or an experienced smoker, having someone to guide you through the process is beneficial. Look for attentive, helpful, and friendly budtenders who know their products inside and out.
Not all DC smoke shops carry the same level of quality cannabis. The last thing you want is to pay a premium for subpar marijuana. Look for head shops that offer carefully sourced, high-quality products.
To buy marijuana safely and legally in DC, smoke shops must be I-71 compliant, which means they must adhere to gifting laws. They should never advertise that they are selling marijuana but rather that they are offering these products as a free gift with another purchase. All legitimate dispensaries and smoke shops should publicize their I-71 compliance online and in-store.
You can go to any recreational DC dispensary if you’re at least 21 years old. And yes, that includes tourists or others from out of state. As long as the dispensary is I-71 compliant, you won’t need a medical marijuana card. Medical marijuana dispensaries, however, require a medical marijuana card.
Marijuana smoking is legal in DC, but only if you follow the rules. Smoking is not permitted in public places or on federal property. Because federal property makes up 29% of the District of Columbia, you should exercise caution when smoking. However, it’s perfectly legal to smoke on private property. Some bars and restaurants may also let you smoke on their property, but you must know the right places.
Thanks to the new gifting laws, you no longer need a medical marijuana card to buy weed in DC. If you’re purchasing from a dispensary that only serves medical marijuana — and isn’t I-71 compliant — you’ll need a medical card. But otherwise, as long as you’re 21+, you should be good to go.
You can’t enter any DC dispensary unless you’re at least 21 years old. The only exception is if you’re a medical marijuana patient entering a medical marijuana facility with a valid ID.
Cannabis possession is now legal in DC, but only up to 2 ounces per person. While you can technically buy as much as you want, remember that having more than 2 ounces may result in a misdemeanor and a hefty fine.
