Category: Washington, D.C.
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Some D.C. Dispensaries Say They Face Flower Shortages Because Growers Restrict Their Supply
Every week, Norbert Pickett orders cannabis from each of D.C.’s eight cultivators to restock the shelves of his small medical dispensary, Cannabliss, located on the East side of the Anacostia River in Deanwood. With the help of his wife and business partner, Collette Leonard, he selects various flower strains, oils, edibles, and other pot products,…
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House Budget Bill Scraps Biden’s Proposed Ban On Recreational Cannabis Sales In D.C.
House lawmakers greenlit a spending bill on Tuesday that leaves out a controversial provision banning D.C. from legalizing recreational cannabis sales. In a 33 to 24 vote, the House Appropriations Committee approved the Financial Services and General Government bill for fiscal year 2022. The legislation, which now heads to the House floor for a full…
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D.C. Council Votes To Block Blanket Cannabis Testing For Volunteers At Public Schools
The D.C. Council on Tuesday voted to block D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) from requiring blanket drug tests––including cannabis screenings––for prospective volunteers and contractors. In a drawn-out legislative meeting that started three hours behind schedule, the emergency bill passed 10-2, with Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto and Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie voting no, and At-Large…
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The Outlaw Podcast: The Biden Budget Rider
The Outlaw Report Podcast host Scott Cecil is joined by first-time guest, and writer for The Outlaw Report, Gaspard Le Dem to discuss President Joe Biden’s inclusion of the “Harris rider” in its FY2022 budget proposal. Which, if ultimately included in the budget, would continue to prevent DC from setting up a regulated adult-use cannabis…
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D.C. Public Schools Starts Screening Staff And Volunteers For Cannabis
As part of new hiring protocols, D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) will now test all current and prospective employees for cannabis, including program partners, contractors, and even volunteers. The new policy, first reported by Washington City Paper, adds to an already substantive security clearance process required to work for DCPS that involves a background check, fingerprinting,…
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Amid Massive Hiring Spree, Amazon Scraps Cannabis Screenings For Job Seekers
Amazon says it will no longer test job applicants for cannabis, though it will continue to perform random drug screenings for employees who are on the job. The policy reversal was announced on Tuesday by Dave Clark, Amazon’s CEO of consumer business, in a blog post on the company’s website. “In the past, like many…
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D.C. ‘Shocked’ And ‘Disappointed’ By Biden Move To Uphold Ban On Recreational Cannabis Sales
D.C. elected officials and business owners are voicing their frustration following news that President Joe Biden’s proposed budget would continue to prevent the District from legalizing recreational cannabis sales. The White House released its $6 trillion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year on Friday May 28 that includes language blocking D.C. from using local…
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The Outlaw Report Podcast: The Future of Legacy Growers in D.C.
The Outlaw Report Podcast host Scott Cecil is joined by Sebi Medina-Tayac, a local D.C. activist, legacy cannabis grower, and indigenous rights advocate. Sebi and Scott have an in-depth discussion around legacy growers in DC and how to integrate the I-71 market into any future adult-use legalization regime from the DC Mayor and Council. They…
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As D.C. Reopens, Medical Cannabis Industry Emerges ‘Stronger Than Ever’
It has been a brutal year for D.C. businesses. Amid strict coronavirus restrictions, storefronts across the District faced a new socially distanced reality, leaving them to quickly adapt their business models or perish. Some found ways to cope, but many were forced to permanently shutter their doors. At least 375 businesses have closed in D.C.…
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Despite D.C. Legalization Push, Police Raids Persist For Unlicensed Cannabis Shops
While D.C. lawmakers forge ahead with efforts to legalize recreational cannabis sales, police in the nation’s capital continue to crack down on businesses that use a “gifting” loophole to sell cannabis in the District. Last week, more than a dozen police officers descended on a storefront called House of Herbs in D.C.’s Park View neighborhood,…