Category: Washington, D.C.

D.C. legal cannabis market sees record slow January sales as unlicensed shops transition to legal

Feb 20, 2024

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by

LJ Dawson

in Federal, Maryland, New York, Newsletter, Outlaw Report, Virginia, Washington, D.C.

Prominent I-71 stores absent from D.C.’s legal cannabis transition Far fewer than expected D.C. gifting stores (76 applications vs. estimated hundreds) applied to transition into legal dispensaries. While 26 initially received placards, 65% remain unapproved, with some requiring revisions and others missing key details like location. Many stores that joined an industry group called The…
Patient exodus and slower sales cast clouds over D.C. market

Feb 17, 2024

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by

LJ Dawson

in Business, Featured, Outlaw Report, Washington, D.C.

D.C. patient expirations outpace new registrations as medical sales continue decline Cultivation and manufacturing revenue in D.C.’s medical cannabis program continue to be below 2023, but they are growing slowly after hitting a low last fall. However, retail sales fell to their lowest point in four years last month, according to ABCA monthly revenue report.…
Prominent I-71 stores absent from D.C.’s legal cannabis transition

Feb 16, 2024

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by

LJ Dawson

in Business, Featured, Outlaw Report, Washington, D.C.

The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) released the much-anticipated list of businesses seeking to transition from D.C.’s I-71 gifting market (often referred to as the “gray market”) to legal medical dispensaries. While hundreds of gifting stores operate in the city, only 76 applications were submitted. A total of 26 D.C. unlicensed retailers have been…
Unlicensed cannabis shops face enforcement this week unless they applied for medical licenses

Feb 12, 2024

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by

LJ Dawson

in Federal, Maryland, New York, Newsletter, Outlaw Report, Virginia, Washington, D.C.

D.C. I-71 shop enforcement reported to start this week All unlicensed dispensaries who operate in the gray market under I-71, will no longer be exempt from enforcement unless they are one of the 76 applicants who applied for a medical license. Enforcement against unlicensed operators will begin after the agency publishes a list of all…
D.C I-71 gifting shops face enforcement, 76 unlicensed shops applied for medical licenses

Feb 8, 2024

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by

LJ Dawson

in Business, Featured, Outlaw Report, Washington, D.C.

UPDATE: List of license applicants published Feb. 12, 2024. The deadline for unlicensed weed gifting shops to apply for medical cannabis licenses closed at the end of January, ending the D.C. government’s attempt to fold unregulated shops into the legal medical cannabis market. Despite the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration’s efforts to make the application…
Weed Wars: lawsuits, equity concerns cloud East Coast legalization

Feb 5, 2024

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by

LJ Dawson

in Federal, Maryland, New York, Newsletter, Outlaw Report, Virginia, Washington, D.C.

Next steps on the horizon The social equity application period for retail stores opens at 9 A.M. of Mar. 1, 2024 until April 30, 2024. ABCA will host an info session tomorrow at 10 A.M., register here. Additional information is available at abca.dc.gov and questions can be directed to ABCA.CannabisLicensing@dc.gov. D.C. medical cannabis sales close…
D.C. medical cannabis sales close out 2023 with six-month high

Jan 30, 2024

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by

LJ Dawson

in Business, Featured, Outlaw Report, Washington, D.C.

Six-month high in D.C. medical cannabis sales While overall sales haven’t reached pre-Maryland adult-use launch levels, D.C.’s medical cannabis market showed signs of stability in December 2023. Total sales reached nearly $3 million, marking the highest monthly figure since Maryland’s recreational market opened in July. Interestingly, patients benefiting from reduced licensing fees contributed over $300,000,…
D.C’s dank delay, Maryland’s weed-smell conflict, Virginia’s slow movement forward

Jan 29, 2024

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by

LJ Dawson

in Federal, Maryland, New York, Newsletter, Outlaw Report, Virginia, Washington, D.C.

D.C. unlicensed operator application period draws to a sluggish close Just three additional licenses were approved for the current unlicensed retailer applicant period at the ABC board meeting last week. This combined with the onslaught of ANC protests of medical cannabis licenses is clouding the end of this license application period. All unlicensed operators period…
D.C. Takes Aim at Unlicensed Cannabis Stores, Maryland Sales Boom, Virginia Dems Push for Legalization, West Virginia Considers Adult-Use Market

Jan 23, 2024

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by

LJ Dawson

in Federal, Maryland, New York, Newsletter, Outlaw Report, Virginia, Washington, D.C.

Catch the Smoke: Jan. 23, 2023 D.C. Cracks Down on “Free Weed” Loophole D.C. cracks down on unlicensed cannabis gifting stores offering “free” weed with other purchases. The new emergency law lets authorities fine and shut down stores that haven’t applied for medical cannabis licenses. Council says it’s about regulation, taxation and bringing businesses into…
D.C. communities begin to turn hostel to new medical cannabis shops

Jan 15, 2024

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by

LJ Dawson

in Federal, Maryland, New York, Newsletter, Outlaw Report, Virginia, Washington, D.C.

Catch the Smoke: Jan. 15, 2024 D.C. ANCs get cold feet on weed Despite a friendly D.C. council, the wheels are starting to fall off the medical expansion meant to fold I-71 shops into a legal market. Multiple unlicensed operators that were awarded licenses are facing protest by their ANCs (neighborhood committees). These include No…
Guns vs. Ganja: Federal Law Pits Medical Marijuana Users Against Second Amendment

Jan 8, 2024

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by

LJ Dawson

in Federal, Maryland, New York, Newsletter, Outlaw Report, Virginia, Washington, D.C.

Newsletter Jan. 8, 2024 D.C. enters the last month of unlicensed retailer licenses Cannabis shops functioning under I-71 in D.C. have less than a month to apply for a medical license under last year’s medical program expansion. ABCA hosts an info session for the next period for social equity internet or retail licenses which starts…
DMV’s Cannabis Market Bounces into 2024 with first D.C. license Denial, $1 Billion Maryland Sales, and New Regulator for VA

Jan 2, 2024

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by

LJ Dawson

in Federal, Maryland, New York, Newsletter, Outlaw Report, Virginia, Washington, D.C.

Catch the Smoke: Dec. 26, 2023 First denial for I-71 gifting store In the last days of 2023, ABC released the year’s final dispositions on the license applications. Four more businesses were approved including a testing laboratory. But, more significantly the first complete denial of an unlicensed applicant was cemented. LOCAL’D was denied their application…