Author: Editorial Staff
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Federal challenge to D.C.’s cannabis licensing system dropped, but Commerce Clause fight looms
Plus Virginia frees 1,000 from cannabis convictions, Bristol raids net $1M, and unregulated smoke shop products are sending people to the hospital
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Federal challenge to D.C.’s cannabis licensing system dropped, but Commerce Clause fight could loom
A federal constitutional challenge to D.C.’s cannabis licensing system was voluntarily dismissed May 8, 2026, leaving dormant Commerce Clause questions unresolved and the door open for future litigation.
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Cannabis group drops federal lawsuit against D.C. licensing system
The Alliance for Recreational Cannabis Entities and the District of Columbia jointly dismissed a federal lawsuit challenging D.C.’s cannabis licensing framework. The dismissal was filed without prejudice, meaning the claims could be refiled later, and comes shortly after D.C. cited a federal appeals court ruling supporting its defense against dormant Commerce Clause claims.
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Maryland union files federal charges against TerrAscend over alleged anti-union tactics
UFCW Local 27 has filed unfair labor practice (ULP) charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against The Apothecarium in Salisbury and its parent company, TerrAscend Corp. The charges, filed May 1, allege that management illegally removed protected union materials from an employee bulletin board—a violation of the National Labor Relations Act.
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Federal Court Tosses Hemp Industry Lawsuit Against Maryland Cannabis Reform Act
A federal judge has dismissed a high-profile lawsuit brought by a coalition of hemp farmers and retailers seeking to overturn key provisions of Maryland’s Cannabis Reform Act (CRA). In a memorandum opinion issued on March 27, 2026, U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin granted the State’s motion to dismiss the case brought by Charm City…
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Level Up Smoke & Tobacco Shop Fined $3K in unlicensed cannabis case
Level Up Smoke & Tobacco Shop was fined $3,000 following a D.C. enforcement action, with a $10,000 penalty triggered by any future violations.
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Blossomz agrees to $10K fine and forced license sale after forced shutdown
The D.C. Cannabis Board approved a settlement requiring West2East/Blossomz to pay a $10,000 fine, remain under closure, and sell its cultivation license within 90 days or face revocation following its February shutdown.
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Virginia Cannabis Authority sets aggressive timeline for adult-use market as 2027 launch takes shape
Virginia is moving quickly toward launching an adult-use cannabis market, with the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority outlining plans to begin licensing in September 2026 and start retail sales by January 1, 2027. Lawmakers have already rejected proposed amendments from Abigail Spanberger that would have delayed the launch, sending the bill back unchanged and leaving the…
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D.C. cannabis operator files $1.6M lawsuit over failed cultivation buildout
Green Grow LLC has sued The Indoor Farmer and its principals in federal court, alleging breach of contract and fraud related to a failed cannabis cultivation buildout in Washington, D.C. The complaint claims the defendants failed to deliver a promised turnkey grow system, over-specified equipment purchases, and ultimately abandoned the project, leaving Green Grow with…
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Virginia Cannabis regulators face calls for equity fixes and supply planning ahead of adult-use launch
Stakeholders urged Virginia regulators to address key gaps in the state’s adult-use cannabis rollout, including equity-focused licensing, technology interoperability, supply chain timing, and workforce readiness, during public comments at the April 8 CCA Board meeting.
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D.C. cites federal appeals court ruling in ongoing cannabis licensing lawsuit
The District of Columbia has filed supplemental authority in an ongoing lawsuit over its cannabis licensing framework, pointing to a recent Ninth Circuit decision that found the dormant Commerce Clause does not apply to cannabis markets due to federal prohibition under the Controlled Substances Act. The cited case upheld residency-based licensing rules in Washington State…
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D.C. authorities shut down three unlicensed cannabis businesses
D.C. regulators and police closed three unlicensed cannabis businesses in late March 2026, seizing cannabis, THC products, and firearms and making three arrests under expanded enforcement authority.