A federal lawsuit filed by the Alliance of Recreational Cannabis Entities challenges D.C. ‘s cannabis regulations, claiming unconstitutional enforcement practices against unlicensed retailers. New briefs were filed by both sides this month. The District argues the claims by ARCE are legally unfounded and urges dismissal. Both sides await the court’s decision, which could shape D.C.’s approach to regulating cannabis businesses.
- The next ABC Board meeting is Dec. 3 & 4, 2025: watch, agenda. (There will be one last meeting for 2025 on Dec. 10)
- DC shuts down popular alleged unlicensed cannabis retailer, Snackz DC and one other
- Nov. 19, 2025 disposition.
- ABCA is hiring a Human Resource Manager, applications due Dec. 5, 2025.
- ABCA Director Fred Moosally was reconfirmed for another four year term (through July 2029).
‘Green Wednesday’ Sales Surge: Dispensaries Report Record Purchases Ahead of Thanksgiving
Dispensaries across Maryland and the DC area saw record consumer demand this “Green Wednesday,” with many customers stocking up on edibles, flower, and pre-rolls ahead of Thanksgiving. The spike in traffic is seen as a growing sign that cannabis is becoming normalized as part of holiday gatherings and celebrations.
Maryland Task Force Recommends Decriminalizing Psychedelics, Proposes Regulated Access Model
The state-created task force on natural psychedelic substances released a report urging lawmakers to legalize and regulate psychedelics for medical and recreational use under a structured program. Their proposal includes regulatory frameworks, licensed production, and safe access — signaling a potential shift toward broader policy reform in Maryland.
Virginia Authorities Raid Multiple Vape Shops — Two Arrested in Illegal Cannabis Probe
Law enforcement searched eight locations across Hanover County and Richmond, including four vape shops, seizing illegal marijuana and related products in a coordinated crackdown on unlicensed cannabis distribution. Two men — both 33 — were arrested and charged with marijuana distribution, one of them also facing additional charges for selling within 1,000 feet of a school.
- The Joint Commission to Oversee the Transition of the Commonwealth into a Cannabis Retail Market is meeting in-person on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 1 PM. You can live stream it here and submit comments or register to testify here.
East Coast Roundup
The First Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court’s dismissal and ruled that out-of-state cannabis growers — including those from California and Florida — may challenge Rhode Island’s licensing scheme requiring retail-license applicants to be state residents, opening the door to a constitutional review of the residency and social equity eligibility rules under the Dormant Commerce Clause.
New Kathy Hochul signed a new law expanding New York’s medical cannabis program, giving out-of-state patients purchasing access, extending patient certifications from one to two years, and allowing adults 18+ to cultivate a limited number of plants at home for therapeutic use.
Culture & More
Researchers at Brown University conducted one of the first controlled studies examining how cannabis affects alcohol consumption, finding that participants drank 20–33% less after smoking THC-containing cannabis compared with a placebo.
Usage of cannabis in the U.S. has surged, but troublingly — as legalization spreads — a growing share of users are developing Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD), even as fewer people seek treatment, raising red flags about under‑recognized addiction and mental‑health harms.
Around the Country
In Washington state, the legal market for ingestible hemp products has collapsed — the number of licensed hemp growers fell from around 200 in 2020 to about 40 this year after a 2023 law removed legal sales channels for hemp-derived products.
In Missouri, a jury awarded a cannabis‑industry consultant $3 million after ruling that a 2022 lab accident — where cannabis dust triggered a fatal asthma attack leading to a heart incident — was largely the fault of the cultivation firm, highlighting liability risks in cannabis operations.
From the swamp
A new spending bill report from the Senate warned Washington, D.C. about proximity of “Marijuana dispensaries” near schools: “The Committee reminds the District that the distribution, manufacturing, and sale of marijuana remains illegal under Federal law, which includes enhanced penalties for such distribution within one thousand feet of a public or private elementary, vocational, or secondary school or public or private college, junior college, or university, or a playground, among other real property where children frequent.”
A recent federal spending bill contains a provision that will ban most hemp-derived THC drinks and edibles — a move that threatens to collapse the booming THC-infused beverage industry, which has grown rapidly in states where cannabis remains illegal.
