Capitol Hemp concluded retail operations at its Adams Morgan storefront, ending more than a decade of business at the Columbia Road location, the company announced Dec. 25, 2025.
The closure was a voluntary decision made as a matter of business judgment following what the company described as careful consideration of the evolving regulatory landscape affecting hemp retailers nationwide. Capitol Hemp said there was no enforcement action at the property and that the decision was not compelled by any government directive.
“This was a deliberate decision,” owner Alan Amsterdam said. “We chose to close this chapter responsibly and on our own terms.”
Capitol Hemp operated its Adams Morgan retail location from 2015 to 2025 and said it prioritized an orderly transition as it exited the space. According to the company, maintaining its long-standing relationship with the building owner and minimizing disruption to the surrounding community were central considerations.
“It was important to us that we could complete an orderly transition and ensure the premises were returned cleanly and made available for re-lease without complication,” Amsterdam said.
Regulatory Context and Legal Challenges
The closure comes amid escalating enforcement activity affecting hemp retailers in the District of Columbia. Earlier in December, the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA), in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department, padlocked two hemp retail locations and arrested multiple employees.
Following those actions, Capitol Hemp filed a civil lawsuit against the District of Columbia on Dec. 14, 2025, along with an emergency motion seeking injunctive relief. The case, Capitol Hemp v. District of Columbia (Case No. 2025-CAB-008208), challenges what the company describes as the District’s enforcement posture and questions the statutory authority relied upon to treat federally lawful hemp products as contraband at the retail level under D.C. law.
On Dec. 18, the D.C. Superior Court scheduled an initial hearing in the matter for March 16, 2026.
Capitol Hemp has stated that the scheduling reflects the court’s need for full briefing on complex statutory and regulatory issues rather than a resolution of the underlying legal questions or risks faced by retailers.
The company had also previously filed a separate civil action earlier in 2025 seeking clarification of the District’s administrative enforcement authority over federally lawful hemp products. That case, Capitol Hemp v. District of Columbia (Case No. 2025-CAB-003730), challenged whether the District could issue administrative infractions treating federally legal hemp as unlawful cannabis without explicit statutory authority.
On Dec. 18, the Superior Court dismissed that case without prejudice on procedural grounds. The court did not reach the merits of the claims or make any findings regarding the legality of Capitol Hemp’s operations.
Capitol Hemp said its decision to exit retail operations was influenced by the practical realities of continued litigation and the increasing risk profile facing independent hemp retailers, including the potential for criminal exposure despite the absence of a judicial determination that hemp retail is unlawful.
While litigation remains pending, the company said relying on the existence of future court dates or informal restraint did not provide sufficient business certainty to justify continued operation.
According to Capitol Hemp, the decision to exit the Adams Morgan location resulted in significant economic disruption but was ultimately made to mitigate risk and conclude the retail chapter responsibly in a rapidly changing enforcement environment.
While retail operations at the Adams Morgan location have ended, Capitol Hemp said the brand continues and future business operations remain under evaluation.
“We’re incredibly proud of the role Capitol Hemp played in Adams Morgan and in the District,” Amsterdam said. “We remain grateful for the relationships we built with customers and the community.”
