Photo via Shutterstock

Photo via Shutterstock

While there may be no shortage of marijuana among home cultivators in a few months time, D.C.’s current medical marijuana cultivators are experiencing just that. So much of a shortage of crop that the D.C. Council passed emergency legislation yesterday to allow medical marijuana cultivators to grow more weed.

The bill, “The Medical Marijuana Supply Shortage Emergency Amendment,” was introduced by Councilmember Vincent Orange (D-At Large) and doubles the amount of plants D.C.’s three medical marijuana dispensaries can grow from 500 to 1,000.

Since the D.C. Council voted to loosen the city’s medical marijuana laws last summer—which, up until that point, D.C. had some of the most restrictive laws in the country—the number of people with medical marijuana cards has exploded. Currently, there are almost 3,000 residents with medical marijuana cards, and D.C. dispensaries are having trouble keeping them supplied.

Yesterday’s emergency legislation was approved by a near-unanimous vote, with only Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5) voting against it.