District cannabis regulators have approved a new medical cannabis retailer in Ward 5, turning back local neighborhood objections that focused on traffic safety and street-level congestion along the Bladensburg Road commercial corridor.
In an official decision, the Alcoholic Beverage Control and Cannabis Board granted a medical cannabis retailer license to ABT, LLC, permitting the business to open at 2335 Bladensburg Road NE. The ruling, issued under Order No. 2026-674, resolved a formal protest brought forward by Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5C Commissioner Shawn Nelson on behalf of local residents.
Under District law, neighborhood challenges to incoming medical cannabis licensees are narrowly circumscribed. Under D.C. Code § 7-1671.06i, protestants may only prevail by proving statutory violations, civil law infractions linked directly to business operations, or specific adverse impacts on vehicular and pedestrian safety. Because the challenge centered primarily on street conditions and foot traffic, the board’s inquiry turned on whether the retail location would exacerbate hazards along a busy commercial artery.
During a June protest hearing, community leaders from the surrounding Gateway neighborhood voiced frustration over existing conditions in the area. Longtime residents testified that heavy construction traffic, industrial dump trucks, and nearby parking structures already impair visibility along Bladensburg Road. Several witnesses expressed particular concern for children waiting at the Metrobus stop located directly in front of the proposed storefront, pointing as well to persistent issues with litter and automobile break-ins in the vicinity.
Yet regulators concluded that the site’s physical layout and operational plan were sufficient to mitigate those risks. The proposed location sits within a PDR-2 industrial-commercial zone, situated at least 400 feet clear of any competing cannabis storefronts and more than 1,200 feet from the nearest liquor-licensed establishment. Agency investigators confirmed that the property includes approximately 30 off-street parking spaces alongside accessible pedestrian crosswalks, relieving reliance on street parking.
To manage day-to-day operations, business owner Abeba Beyene partnered with Christopher Michael, an industry veteran with nearly a decade of experience across multiple markets and two years managing District-licensed cannabis facilities without regulatory infractions. As part of its submission, ABT outlined security measures including eight exterior surveillance cameras, specialized inventory training, and on-site staff dedicated to directing traffic into the private parking lot.
While acknowledging the weight assigned to official Advisory Neighborhood Commission recommendations under D.C. law, the board held that the applicant had met its burden of proof through substantial evidence. The board found no persuasive indication that the dispensary would compromise surrounding street safety, approving the application without attaching special operating restrictions.
Under the terms of the order, ABT, LLC is authorized to conduct sales, deliveries, and safe-use treatment on-site from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
