Cookies weed brand officially lands this week in D.C.
World-renowned cannabis brand Cookies is opening its East Coast flagship in Washington D.C. on July 11 at 4:20 PM at 1115 U Street NW. This launch marks a significant moment for D.C.’s cannabis economy, being the first major national brand to partner with local businesses in the legal market. Cookies, founded by rapper Berner, is partnering with native Washingtonian James Kahn (owner of Takoma Wellness Center) and local cultivator Alternative Solutions (AtlSol). This collaboration aims to deliver Cookies’ signature quality with a strong local connection.
- Next ABC Board meeting July 9 at 10:30 A.M., agenda, watch.
- The Outlaw Report is excited to partner with National Cannabis Festival, coming to D.C. July 18th & 19th! Click here to visit the NCF website and view the full lineup of activities, and click here to enter our drawing for two tickets!
Maryland focuses on cannabis equity with launch of CEO accelerator program
Maryland launched a first-of-its-kind cannabis equity ecosystem, including a CEO Accelerator Program, on June 24, 2025. This initiative, led by the Office of Social Equity (OSE), empowers 191 social equity licensees through partnerships with NuProject and Coppin State University, offering business development, financial training, and mentorship. The comprehensive program also includes a Trailblazers Series, networking events, masterclasses, a vendor fair, grants, and future partnership opportunities, all aimed at fostering job creation and community wealth.
- Gov. Wes Moore has paused plans to build a cannabis incubator at the William J. Witte Armory in Catonsville and directed state agencies to seek a new site further away from residential areas, ensuring broader community engagement in the site selection process.
- In June 2024, Gov. Moore issued a sweeping blanket pardon for approximately 175,000 misdemeanor cannabis possession and paraphernalia convictions—while shielding records rather than fully expunging them—and continues to push for further reforms to fully clear affected individuals’ criminal histories.
East Coast Roundup
Emergency rooms in Central New York are experiencing a significant increase in visits due to the consumption of more potent legal cannabis, highlighting concerns about public health impacts since legalization.
Massachusetts revoked the license of its first cannabis testing laboratory, Assured Testing Laboratories, due to a “pattern of failing to accurately report Total Yeast and Mold test results,” posing a threat to public health and safety.
Seven Chinese nationals face charges for their alleged roles in a multi-million-dollar money laundering, undocumented immigrant smuggling and drug trafficking enterprise that operated cannabis grow houses across the Northeast.
Culture & More
Thailand’s government is implementing a significant reversal on its liberal cannabis laws, causing a scramble for survival among cannabis businesses that had flourished under the previous decriminalization.
A Pew Research Center article reveals that a strong majority of Americans support cannabis legalization for medical or recreational purposes, reflecting a significant shift in public opinion and highlighting various demographic and societal impacts.
European cannabis seed companies are increasingly dominating the American cannabis seed market by leveraging the growing trend of home cultivation and providing high-quality genetics directly to consumers.
Around the Country
After nearly six years of legal battles, allegations of fraud and forged documents, Missouri regulators rescinded two cannabis facility licenses amid a tangled ownership dispute.
Jacy Todd, a medical cannabis advocate and notary running for Nebraska governor, is facing multiple misdemeanor charges for allegedly notarizing medical-cannabis petition pages improperly during efforts to implement voter-approved legalization.
Multistate cannabis operator TerrAscend is shutting down all 20 of its Michigan dispensaries and four cultivation sites by the end of 2025, citing difficult market conditions, oversupply, and slim margin.
From the swamp
The DEA has provided no update on rescheduling cannabis 180 days after the required deadline, with no briefing schedule set and the process stalled due to a pending interlocutory appeal.
Federal courts are dealing with constitutional challenges to the law prohibiting cannabis users from gun ownership, expanding scrutiny of the intersection between cannabis use and Second Amendment rights.
