_edited.png)
DC Cannabis Beverage Bill 2026: What B26-0654 Would Mean for DC Breweries, Dispensaries, and Patients
- Bud Lords
- Aug 8
- 9 min read
DC Cannabis Beverage Bill 2026: What B26-0654 Would Mean for DC Breweries, Dispensaries, and Patients
Washington DC is on the verge of a notable shift in its cannabis market. A new piece of legislation, DC cannabis beverage bill 2026, formally known as Bill B26-0654 (the Medical Cannabis Beverage Product Amendment Act of 2026), would allow licensed breweries and distilleries in the District to partner with medical cannabis manufacturers to produce non-alcoholic, cannabis-infused drinks. If passed, it would create a new product category in DC's dispensaries: cannabis beverages made with the infrastructure and expertise of the city's craft alcohol producers.
The bill has not yet passed into law. It was introduced by Mayor Muriel Bowser on April 2, 2026, referred to the Committee of the Whole on April 21, 2026, and received a public hearing on July 2, 2026. As of August 2026, the DC Council is in summer recess until approximately September 15, 2026, and no further committee vote has been scheduled. What we know is the framework it proposes, and what that could mean for DC cannabis consumers, medical patients, and the local hospitality industry.
What Is DC Bill B26-0654?
Bill B26-0654, the Medical Cannabis Beverage Product Amendment Act of 2026, is a Mayor-introduced piece of legislation that proposes a formal partnership structure between two already-regulated industries in DC: the licensed cannabis sector and the licensed alcohol manufacturing sector.
Under the bill's framework as introduced, the following changes would take effect:
A new production endorsement for breweries and distilleries. Licensed DC alcohol manufacturers (breweries and distilleries that already hold a license from the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration, or ABCA) could apply for a medical cannabis beverage production endorsement. The annual fee would be $500. This endorsement would allow them to use their existing large-scale bottling, canning, and blending infrastructure to produce cannabis-infused beverages under contract for licensed medical cannabis manufacturers.
A new import endorsement for cannabis manufacturers. Licensed medical cannabis manufacturers could apply for a separate cannabinoid import endorsement, at an annual fee of $1,000, permitting them to import certain non-intoxicating cannabinoids for use in beverage production.
Mandatory lab testing. Every batch produced at a brewery or distillery would need to be returned to the partnering cannabis manufacturer before entering the market. Products would then be required to pass safety testing at a DC-licensed laboratory.
A 6% sales tax would apply to all cannabis beverages sold under this framework, consistent with other medical cannabis products in DC.
Expanded courier authority for transporting finished products between production and retail locations.
It is worth noting what the bill does NOT propose. Cannabis beverages produced under B26-0654 would not be sold at the brewery where they are made. They would not be available at bars, restaurants, liquor stores, or grocery stores. And they would not be available for adult recreational purchase in the same way a bottle of beer is. Under the bill, sales are restricted exclusively to licensed medical cannabis dispensaries, and purchasers must be registered medical cannabis patients.
The Companion Bill: B26-0259 and the Craft Preparation Endorsement
Heard at the same July 2, 2026 public hearing, Bill B26-0259, the Medical Cannabis Retailer Craft Preparation Endorsement Act of 2025, takes a complementary approach from the retail end. While B26-0654 focuses on large-scale production partnerships, B26-0259 would allow licensed dispensaries themselves to prepare certain cannabis products on-site.
Under B26-0259 as introduced:
Dispensaries with the craft preparation endorsement could prepare edibles (including beverages, baked goods, and chocolates), topicals, and pre-rolls on their licensed premises.
Preparation space would be capped at no more than 20% of the retailer's gross floor area.
Retailers could not grow cannabis themselves for these purposes; they would source cannabis oil, butter, or other inputs from licensed manufacturers.
No solvent-based extraction (butane or explosive gases) would be permitted on-site.
Storage limits would apply: a maximum of 2 kilograms of medical cannabis flower and 1 liter total of cannabis oil and tinctures for preparation purposes.
Products could only be sold directly to registered medical patients and caregivers. No wholesale transfers or transfers to other retailers would be permitted.
Together, B26-0654 and B26-0259 represent a two-track approach to expanding the cannabis beverage and craft product category in DC: one track through industrial production partnerships with breweries, the other through in-house preparation at the dispensary level. If both bills pass, DC's medical cannabis market would have significantly more product variety, particularly in the beverage and craft edible categories.
DC's Unique Cannabis Landscape: Why This Bill Matters
To understand why these bills matter, it helps to understand where DC's cannabis market stands in 2026.
Washington DC legalized cannabis possession and home cultivation for adults 21 and older through Initiative 71 in 2014. Adults in DC can legally possess up to two ounces of cannabis and grow up to six plants (no more than three mature) at home. However, because of the Harris Rider, a federal budget provision that has consistently blocked DC from spending local funds to implement adult-use retail sales, the District still cannot issue traditional recreational sales licenses.
Instead, DC's commercial cannabis market operates through a licensed medical program that has been dramatically expanded and made more accessible. As of mid-2026, DC residents and visitors 21 and older can self-certify for a medical cannabis card online, without a doctor's recommendation, enabling them to shop at any of the District's 73-plus operational dispensaries. The program has grown to over 123,000 registered patients and regularly exceeds $10 million in monthly sales, according to ABCA data cited in industry reporting from The Outlaw Report (2026).
The aggressive enforcement crackdown on the gray-market "gifting" shops (over 113 unlicensed establishments padlocked as of mid-2026) and the transition of roughly 95 former gifting businesses into licensed dispensaries have accelerated the growth of the formal medical market. The result is a DC cannabis landscape that functions, in practical terms, as a de facto adult-use market accessible through self-certification, but regulated under the medical program's rules.
Cannabis beverages are the next frontier of this market. Nationally, the cannabis beverage category is growing rapidly, with brands like Cann and Cycling Frog building audiences around low-dose, "sessionable" drinks designed to replace a glass of wine or a beer. Breweries and distilleries across the country have been eyeing this space as younger consumers shift away from alcohol. In DC, local breweries like Atlas Brew Works have already expressed public interest in B26-0654 specifically, seeing it as a way to put existing bottling and canning infrastructure to work while finding new revenue streams.
The DC Brewers Guild and medical cannabis operators both testified in support of B26-0654 at the July 2, 2026 hearing, according to reporting from Fox 5 DC and The Marijuana Herald. That bipartisan industry support, crossing the traditional divide between alcohol and cannabis sectors, is notable, and reflects a broader national trend of craft brewers looking toward cannabis beverages as the category gains mainstream acceptance.
What Types of Beverages Would Be Produced?
Bill B26-0654 does not specify particular product types in granular detail, but the framework it creates is broad enough to cover a range of non-alcoholic cannabis-infused beverages. Based on what breweries and cannabis manufacturers can produce with existing large-scale bottling infrastructure, likely product categories would include:
Cannabis-infused sparkling waters and seltzers, the current dominant form factor in the national cannabis beverage market
Non-alcoholic cannabis beers, crafted using traditional brewing processes but with cannabinoids instead of alcohol
Cannabis tonics and botanical drinks, leveraging the distillery side of the partnership framework
Low-dose cannabis sodas and fruit drinks, already popular in adult-use states like California and Colorado
All products would be required to be 100% alcohol-free. Mixing THC or other cannabinoids with alcohol would remain strictly prohibited under the bill as introduced.
What This Means for DC Consumers (If the Bill Passes)
For registered medical cannabis patients in DC, the practical effect of B26-0654 would be expanded product selection at licensed dispensaries. Instead of primarily purchasing flower, pre-rolls, concentrates, edibles, and vape cartridges, patients could also find a range of professionally produced cannabis beverages, made in the same facilities that brew some of DC's most recognizable craft beers.
For DC cannabis consumers who are not yet registered medical patients, the self-certification pathway remains available and accessible. Any DC resident or visitor 21 and older can register online through the ABCA portal to become a registered patient, enabling access to licensed dispensaries and everything they carry.
What this bill would NOT change: the federal prohibition on adult-use recreational sales, the requirement to purchase from a licensed dispensary, or the restriction on consuming cannabis in public spaces.
Important note: This article reflects the bill as introduced, based on publicly available information as of August 2026. B26-0654 has NOT passed into law. The DC Council is in recess until approximately September 15, 2026, and no committee vote has been scheduled. All provisions described above are proposed, not enacted. This is general information only, not individualized legal advice.
How DC Compares to Other States on Cannabis Beverages
DC is not alone in exploring this territory, though it is taking a path shaped by its unique regulatory environment.
In Minnesota, cannabis beverages with low doses of THC (5mg per serving) can be purchased in liquor stores and even some mainstream retailers. That is a much more accessible model than what B26-0654 proposes, but one enabled by Minnesota's full adult-use legalization.
In New York, as of mid-2026, the state is considering legislation that would allow liquor and wine stores to sell low-potency cannabis beverages, according to Brewbound reporting. Like DC, New York is navigating a post-legalization landscape where the line between cannabis and alcohol distribution is actively being redrawn.
In California and New Jersey, both states have moved to push "intoxicating" hemp-derived THC beverages into the licensed dispensary system, which is closer to the model DC already operates under.
A significant national development is also worth noting. Public Law 119-37, Section 781, taking effect November 12, 2026, caps the total THC in any hemp-derived container at 0.4 milligrams. That threshold would effectively ban the 5mg and 10mg low-dose seltzers currently sold in mainstream retail across the country. Brewing guilds and beverage trade organizations are lobbying for an exemption, but if no carve-out is enacted, DC's dispensary-only model may actually prove more durable than the hemp-beverage retail models in other states.
Bud Lords Delivers Cannabis Products in DC Right Now
While B26-0654 is still pending, DC dispensaries already carry a growing selection of cannabis products across every category, and Bud Lords delivers them directly to DC, Maryland, and Virginia customers.
If you are a registered medical cannabis patient in DC, or you are ready to self-certify for your medical card, the full range of available cannabis products, including edibles, concentrates, flower, pre-rolls, and vape cartridges, is available at the Bud Lords shop. Browse our edibles and infused products for the closest thing available today to cannabis-infused food and drink products.
As the DC market evolves and cannabis beverages become available through licensed dispensaries, Bud Lords will be among the first to cover what's new and make those products available for delivery. Follow the Bud Lords Cannabis Newsroom for ongoing coverage of DC cannabis legislation, market updates, and product news.
Frequently Asked Questions About DC Bill B26-0654
Q: Has DC Bill B26-0654 passed?
A: No. As of August 2026, B26-0654 has NOT passed. It was introduced on April 2, 2026, referred to the Committee of the Whole on April 21, 2026, and received a public hearing on July 2, 2026. The DC Council is in summer recess until approximately September 15, 2026, and no further hearing or vote has been scheduled. The bill is pending legislation, not current law.
Q: What would DC Bill B26-0654 actually allow?
A: If passed, the bill would allow licensed DC breweries and distilleries to produce non-alcoholic, cannabis-infused beverages in partnership with licensed medical cannabis manufacturers. The products would be required to pass lab testing and could only be sold through licensed medical cannabis dispensaries to registered patients.
Q: Would cannabis beverages be sold at breweries and bars under B26-0654?
A: No. The bill explicitly restricts sales to licensed medical cannabis dispensaries only. Cannabis beverages could not be sold at the brewery where they are made, nor at bars, restaurants, liquor stores, or grocery stores.
Q: Who can buy cannabis beverages under this bill?
A: Under the bill as proposed, only registered medical cannabis patients would be eligible to purchase cannabis beverages at licensed dispensaries. However, DC adults 21 and older can self-certify for a medical cannabis card online through the ABCA portal without a doctor's recommendation.
Q: What is the companion bill B26-0259?
A: Bill B26-0259, the Medical Cannabis Retailer Craft Preparation Endorsement Act of 2025, would allow licensed dispensaries to prepare certain cannabis products on-site, including edibles, beverages, topicals, and pre-rolls. It was also heard at the July 2, 2026 hearing and is also pending committee action.
Q: Can cannabis beverages contain alcohol under these bills?
A: No. Both bills explicitly require cannabis beverages to be 100% non-alcoholic. Mixing THC or other cannabinoids with alcohol remains prohibited.
Q: Where can I buy cannabis products in DC right now?
A: DC residents and visitors 21 and older can shop at licensed dispensaries after self-certifying for a medical cannabis card. Bud Lords delivers cannabis products in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Visit budlords.com/shop to browse available products.
Q: What is DC's Harris Rider, and why does it matter for cannabis legalization?
A: The Harris Rider is a federal budget provision that has consistently blocked DC from spending local tax funds to implement adult-use recreational cannabis sales. As a result, DC cannot issue recreational sales licenses the way states like Colorado or California can. DC's accessible medical self-certification pathway effectively functions as the practical alternative, though all sales remain technically under the medical program.
Sources
DC Government Press Release: Mayor Bowser Introduces Medical Cannabis Beverage Product Amendment Act of 2026. April 2026. https://dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-introduces-medical-cannabis-beverage-product-amendment-act-2026
LegiScan: DC Bill B26-0654: Medical Cannabis Beverage Product Amendment Act of 2026. https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/B26-0654/2025
LegiScan: DC Bill B26-0259: Medical Cannabis Retailer Craft Preparation Endorsement Act of 2025. https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/B26-0259/2025
The Outlaw Report: Hearing on Multiple DC Council Medical Cannabis Bills Coming in July. 2026. https://www.outlawreport.com/posts/hearing-on-multiple-dc-council-medical-cannabis-bills-coming-in-july
Fox 5 DC: New DC bill would allow cannabis-infused drinks in partnership with breweries and distilleries. 2026.
The Marijuana Herald: DC Council Discusses Medical Cannabis Beverage Proposals. July 2026. https://themarijuanaherald.com/2026/07/dc-council-discusses-medical-cannabis-beverage-proposals/
Marijuana Moment: DC Mayor Proposes Allowing Licensed Medical Marijuana Partnerships with Local Breweries and Distilleries. 2026. https://www.marijuanamoment.net/d-c-mayor-proposes-allowing-licensed-medical-marijuana-partnerships-with-local-breweries-and-distilleries/
Brewbound: New York Cannabis Market Expansion and hemp beverage reporting. 2026.
ABCA.dc.gov: Medical Cannabis Program data and licensing updates. 2026. https://abca.dc.gov/page/medical-cannabis-program
This article was researched and written with AI assistance by the Bud Lords AI Newsroom.
Last verified: August 2026. This article provides general information about pending legislation only and does not constitute individualized legal advice. Cannabis laws and regulations are subject to change.
Comments