2016 District of Columbia Code
Title 48 - Foods and Drugs. §§ 48-101 - 48-1213
Chapter 9A - Marijuana Consumption in Public Space. §§ 48-911.01 - 48-911.01
§ 48–911.01. Consumption of marijuana in public space prohibited; impairment prohibited.

(a) Notwithstanding any other District law, it is unlawful for any person to smoke or otherwise consume marijuana in or upon a public space, or in or upon any of the following places:

(1) A street, alley, park, sidewalk, or parking area;

(2) A vehicle in or upon any street, alley, park, or parking area; or

(3) Any place to which the public is invited.

(b) No person, whether in or on public or someone else’s private property, shall be impaired due to smoking or otherwise consuming marijuana and endanger the safety of himself, herself, or any other person or property.

(c) Any person violating the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01 or imprisoned for not more than 60 days.

(d) The Attorney General for the District of Columbia, or his or her assistants, shall prosecute violations of this section, in the name of the District of Columbia.

(e) For the purposes of this section, the term “smoke” means to inhale, ingest, or otherwise introduce marijuana into the human body, or to hold or carry a lighted roll of paper or other lighted smoking equipment filled with marijuana.

(July 17, 2014, D.C. Law 20-126, § 301, 61 DCR 3482.)

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2 of the Marijuana Possession Decriminalization Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2015 (D.C. Act 21-19, Mar. 26, 2015, 62 DCR 3857, 21 DCSTAT 852).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2 of the Marijuana Possession Decriminalization Clarification EmergencyAmendment Act of 2016 (D.C. Act 21-273, Jan. 14, 2016, 63 DCR 801).

For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 2 of the Marijuana Possession Decriminalization Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2015 (D.C. Law 21-11, June 4, 2015, 62 DCR 4717).

For temporary (225 days) amendment and addition of section, see § 2 of the Marijuana Possession Decriminalization Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2016 D.C. Law 21-98, April 6, 2016, 63 DCR 2211, 20 DCSTAT 3135).

Section 501 of D.C. Law 20-126 provided that the Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2 [§ 2-501 et seq.], may issue rules to implement the provisions of the act.