New here?
Your first dispensary visit, without the nerves.
Bring a photo ID, do a two-minute registration, and tell us what you want the evening to feel like. That is the whole thing. Here is what actually happens at 4630 14th St NW.
What to bring to a first dispensary visit
- 01Photo ID, 21 or overA driver license, state ID, passport or military ID with your date of birth. Every visit, every time, no exceptions.
- 02Your D.C. registrationA free self-certification on the ABCA portal. Residents and visitors both qualify. Not done yet? We do it with you at the counter.
- 03A way to payCash or debit at the register, ATM on site. Ask about cards when you check out.
- 04One sentence about the goalSleep, a calmer evening, a sore back, a social night. That sentence does more than any strain name.
How the visit goes
You check in at the door with your ID. If you are already registered, you walk straight to the counter. If not, a staff member opens the ABCA form with you on a tablet; it asks for your name, date of birth and address, and takes about two minutes. Nobody needs a doctor's note.
At the counter, say what you are after. The budtender pulls two or three options, shows you the lab numbers on each, and suggests a starting dose if you are new. Flower, pre-rolls, vapes, edibles, tinctures and concentrates are all on the shelf; the live menu shows exactly what is in stock today with prices.
You pay, everything goes in a sealed bag, and you are done. Fifteen minutes if you want to talk, five if you already know. Products are for use inside the District, so the bag stays closed until you are home.
The questions people are embarrassed to ask
How much should I take? Less than you think; we will tell you a number. Will it smell? Flower does; carts and edibles do not. Can I come back and ask questions? Yes, that is the job. Is it weird if I do not know anything? No, most first visits start there.
Would you rather skip the trip?
Same-day delivery covers every neighborhood inside D.C. You register online, order on the live menu, and the driver checks your ID at the door. How delivery works.
First dispensary visit questions
What do I need for my first dispensary visit in DC?
Two things: a government photo ID that shows you are 21 or over, and your D.C. medical cannabis registration. The registration is a free self-certification on the ABCA portal that takes about two minutes. If you have not done it, come in anyway and we will do it with you at the counter.
Do I need a doctor or a medical card from my own state?
No. D.C. lets residents and visitors 21 and over self-certify online, no doctor visit and no out-of-state card needed. Your ID plus the online registration is the whole requirement.
How do I pay at a DC dispensary?
Cash and debit at the counter, and there is an ATM on site. Ask about card options when you check out, since the processors change from time to time. Delivery orders are paid at the door.
How long does a first visit take?
Fifteen minutes if you want to talk it through, five if you already know what you want. Registration adds a couple of minutes the first time. Mid-afternoon on a weekday is the quietest hour.
Can I bring a friend who is not registered?
Yes, they can come in with you. Only registered patients 21 and over can buy, and each person shows their own ID and registration at the counter.
What if I have no idea what to buy?
That is most first visits. Tell the budtender what you want out of it: sleep, a calmer evening, something for a sore back, a social night. We narrow it to two or three options and start you on a low dose.