Category: Washington, D.C.
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D.C. Cannabis Board Finalizes $3,000 Settlement and Permanent Closure of Flowerz
The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board approved an Offer-in-Compromise resolving enforcement actions against Flowerz, LLC, resulting in a $3,000 fine, permanent vacating of its D.C. premises, and strict conditions placed on the property owner regarding future cannabis-related activity.
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D.C. court combines briefing for 8 ALCE cannabis lawsuits
Eight civil cases filed by the Alliance of Legal Cannabis Entities‑DC, LLC (ALCE) against unlicensed cannabis dispensaries and property owners in D.C. will now proceed under a consolidated briefing schedule. The court’s move aims to streamline early litigation, allowing a single motion to dismiss to address overlapping legal questions while keeping individual defendants’ issues separate.
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D.C. cannabis regulators extend temporary patient cards amid surge in applications
The D.C. cannabis board adopted a third emergency rule extending temporary medical cannabis patient cards from 30 to 90 days and removing the passport photo requirement, citing a sharp increase in patient applications that has slowed processing times.
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D.C. regulators propose prorated licensing fees for new medical cannabis businesses
The D.C. Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board has proposed a rule that would prorate first-year licensing fees for medical cannabis facilities based on the time remaining in the license year. The proposal would reduce costs for businesses receiving licenses late in the year and provide credits to some licensees who previously paid full annual fees…
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D.C. licensed medical cannabis grower closed by law enforcement
Blossomz, one of Washington, D.C.’s few licensed medical cannabis cultivation facilities, was closed Feb. 27 by the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration and the Metropolitan Police Department. While ABCA has not released a public closure report or statement, a police document shows officers seized numerous boxes and bins containing cannabis flower and prerolls. The report…
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D.C. cannabis board suspends Doobie District for illegal sales and false METRC entries
The District of Columbia Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board has issued a 30-day suspension to Doobie District after determining the retailer sold medical cannabis to non-qualified individuals and entered false information into METRC. Investigators conducted two undercover purchases in May 2025 without being asked for patient identification. The Board sustained violations related to improper dispensing…
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D.C. finalizes medical cannabis advertising and signage rules after extended emergency rulemakings
The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board has finalized new medical cannabis advertising and signage regulations, bringing permanent clarity to rules first introduced through emergency legislation in 2024. The amendments limit exterior medical cannabis signage to 10 square feet (excluding trade names), cap window signage at 25% of window space, prohibit cannabis-related signs on entry and…
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Why some cannabis businesses say 280E no longer applies — and how operators are filing anyway
Tax experts and D.C. cannabis operators say Section 280E may no longer apply as written, pointing to new inventory accounting rules, HHS’s rescheduling recommendation, and pending tax court cases. While refunds face growing IRS scrutiny, forward-looking tax strategies — paired with strong bookkeeping and formal disclosures — are reshaping how cannabis businesses approach compliance ahead…
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Authorities padlock illegal cannabis operation in Northwest D.C.
ABCA and MPD closed an unlicensed cannabis retailer in Northwest D.C., seizing multiple cannabis products and arresting one individual. The action marks the 101st illegal cannabis business shut down since the District expanded enforcement authority under a 2024 emergency law.
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Capitol Hemp closes Adams Morgan retail location amid escalating hemp enforcement
Capitol Hemp has voluntarily closed its Adams Morgan retail location after more than a decade, citing regulatory uncertainty and escalating enforcement affecting hemp retailers. The company emphasized the closure was not driven by enforcement at the property and said litigation challenging the District’s authority remains pending.
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D.C. cannabis board denies ANC 6A reconsideration in Proper Exotic protest
The D.C. Cannabis Board denied ANC 6A’s effort to revive its protest against Proper Exotic, ruling that the ANC failed to provide sufficient factual detail under updated medical cannabis protest laws. The decision reinforces tighter pleading standards and clarifies that many traditional protest grounds no longer apply to standard cannabis applicants.
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D.C. reaches 100th illegal cannabis business closure under emergency enforcement law
DC officials announced the closure of the District’s 100th illegal cannabis business since enforcement efforts began in 2024, following a Jan. 1 raid on an unlicensed residential operation in southeast Washington. The milestone comes amid expanded regulatory powers and ongoing public safety enforcement.