Authorities padlock illegal cannabis operation in Northwest D.C.
D.C. regulators padlocked another illegal cannabis shop in Northwest, seizing unregulated products and making an arrest. The closure brings the city’s total to 101 unlicensed cannabis businesses shut down since July 2024.
Maryland Tightens Cannabis Agent Registration and Criminal History Requirements in 2026 Guidance
The Maryland Cannabis Administration has issued updated 2026 guidance clarifying how cannabis businesses must register agents and complete required criminal history background checks as the state’s cannabis market continues to expand. The guidance details who must be registered as a cannabis agent, emphasizes that registrations must be initiated by the employing business through the state’s OneStop system, and outlines fingerprint submission and background check procedures for both in-state and out-of-state applicants.
- Michael Gary Bronfein, the 70-year-old co-founder and CEO of Baltimore’s Curio Wellness and a longtime investor, philanthropist, and cannabis industry pioneer, died of natural causes on January 21, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of business leadership and community involvement.
- The Maryland Department of Labor awarded a $217,000 grant to CannaWorkforce to expand its cannabis industry workforce development and training programs, supporting education and job placement for unemployed and underemployed Marylanders in the regulated cannabis sector.
Virginia’s proposed cannabis bill would give licensing preference to some Southwest and Southside applicants
Virginia’s proposed cannabis legalization bill would create a social-equity licensing system that gives certain applicants preference for retail cannabis licenses based on criteria including residence in disproportionately policed or economically disadvantaged areas — a structure that could advantage people from some Southwest and Southside localities regardless of race.
- Virginia senators approved a bill to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana sales, moving the state closer to a licensed adult-use cannabis market.
- Virginia hemp farmers are facing challenges navigating regulatory and enforcement pressures as the state’s cannabis policies evolve, leaving many stuck between marijuana laws and government requirements.
- The next CCA meeting is Feb. 17, 1-3 P.M.
East Coast Roundup
A national dark-money group is funding efforts to block recreational cannabis legalization in Massachusetts, spending heavily to influence the state’s ballot initiatives.
The FBI is investigating a Fairfield, Maine cannabis shop previously linked to Chinese organized crime over suspected criminal activity.
Culture & More
California’s legal cannabis market is facing challenges as unlicensed operators and the black market thrive, undermining licensed businesses. Regulatory complexity and inconsistent federal guidance are contributing to rising crime and operational struggles across the state’s legal cannabis sector.
The Chicago United Center will begin selling hemp-derived THC beverages at concerts and events for adults 21 and older. This move marks a milestone as one of the first major U.S. arenas to offer cannabis products alongside traditional concessions.
Around the Country
Denver city officials revoked multiple cannabis dispensary licenses after discovering connections to an interstate drug case and regulatory code violations, including alleged trafficking activities tied to a company compliance manager’s arrest.
Missouri cannabis growers were fined for violating state regulations related to the “Immaculate Conception” rule—penalties that underscore ongoing enforcement of cultivation compliance in the state’s regulated cannabis market.
California Highway Patrol investigators uncovered an underground bunker used for an illicit cannabis cultivation operation in Anderson, Calif., and seized a large cache of illegal firearms, high-capacity magazines, and approximately 10,000 rounds of ammunition during the raid, with one suspect arrested on multiple weapons charges.
From the Swamp
ACLU attorneys argue in a brief to the U.S. Supreme Court that the federal ban on gun ownership for cannabis consumers under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3) is outdated, vague, and unconstitutional, especially in light of President Trump’s recent executive order directing federal agencies to reschedule cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. They contend that stripping responsible cannabis users of their Second Amendment rights lacks historical precedent and conflicts with evolving state and federal cannabis policies.
