Category: Washington, D.C.
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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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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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DOJ Schedule III cannabis order creates uncertainty for D.C.’s medical self-certification program
Tax relief and business benefits are clear, but federal certification rules could clash with D.C.’s patient access model.
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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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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.
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Bowser proposes bill to allow cannabis-infused drinks through D.C. breweries
Mayor Muriel Bowser has introduced legislation that would allow D.C. breweries to collaborate with cannabis businesses to produce THC-infused beverages for sale through the medical cannabis system, as industry stakeholders cite pressure from neighboring adult-use states.
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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.