D.C. cannabis board denies ANC 6A reconsideration in Proper Exotic protest
The D.C. Cannabis Board has denied ANC 6A’s request to reconsider the dismissal of its protest against medical cannabis applicant Proper Exotic. The Board found the protest lacked required factual substance and reaffirmed that recent changes to D.C. law significantly narrow the grounds on which ANCs may challenge standard cannabis license applications.
- Capitol Hemp chooses to close amid hemp retailer enforcement.
- The next ABC Board meeting is Jan. 28, 2026: watch, agenda.
- Blunt Sluts Cannabis Club was robbed over the weekend.
- ABC Board meeting schedule for 2026.
- The U.S. House of Representatives passed a fiscal year 2026 spending bill that includes a provision continuing to bar Washington, D.C. from legalizing and regulating recreational cannabis sales under local law, a restriction embedded in a long-standing appropriations rider.
Virginia bill sets earliest cannabis retail launch for November 1, 2026
A new Virginia bill (HB 642) targets a November 1, 2026 start for legal adult-use cannabis retail sales, setting the earliest date commercial shops could open if the legislation is enacted.
- The next CCA meeting is Feb. 17, 1-3 P.M.
Millions in West Virginia medical cannabis funds remain unspent amid federal uncertainty
West Virginia’s state treasurer has still not spent roughly $34 million collected from the state’s medical cannabis program for purposes the law intended, including substance abuse treatment, law enforcement training, and research, leaving the funds unallocated months after they were first reported unspent. The delay persists because cannabis remains classified as a federal Schedule I drug, creating legal uncertainty about using the money, and officials say a resolution for how to spend it is still forthcoming.
ICYMI: D.C. Closes 100th Illegal Cannabis Business; Storehouse Fined $10K; Virginia Bills Advance
East Coast Roundup
New Jersey lawmakers have introduced bills that would allow adults 21 and older as well as medical patients to legally grow cannabis at home, with adult users possibly permitted up to six plants and medical patients up to 10 plants per household. These proposals aim to expand cultivation rights in a state that currently prohibits home growing despite legal adult-use sales.
Three Connecticut cannabis operations under the Crisp Cannabis brand and the entity seeking to acquire them agreed to pay a $416,000 settlement after state regulators found they violated the Responsible and Equitable Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis Act and antitrust laws by failing to file required notifications and reducing competitive independence.
Connecticut’s cannabis sales in 2025 were slightly lower than in 2024, even though December marked a record month for revenue, with state data showing total sales around $290 million compared to $293 million the previous year. Factors cited include cross-border purchases and multiple taxes that have reduced in-state demand.
Culture & More
Rapper Xzibit’s ex-wife filed a lawsuit alleging he sold their stake in a cannabis brand without her consent, claiming she helped build the business and was unjustly cut out of its ownership. The legal action centers on control and equity in the cannabis brand they once shared.
Cannabis companies are using the trend of Dry January as a marketing opportunity by promoting THC products as alternatives to alcohol, though experts warn that cannabis is not a benign substance and its use carries its own health considerations. The article explores how some people substitute weed for alcohol during sobriety challenges and how the industry is positioning products accordingly.
High Times profiled Inmaculada “Macu,” a longtime rolling paper factory worker whose craftsmanship contributed to producing over a billion rolling papers, highlighting the fading traditional craft and cultural legacy of paper production tied to cannabis smoking culture. The story reflects on the history and personal journey of someone central to that niche industry.
Around the Country
A Michigan appeals court has denied a request from the cannabis industry to bypass legal procedures in litigation challenging a new 24% wholesale cannabis tax, meaning the case must continue through standard appellate channels. This tax, part of the state’s fiscal plan, is opposed by industry groups who argue it will harm business viability.
Montana’s adult-use cannabis market hit a new annual sales record of $327 million in 2025, reflecting continued growth in demand and retail activity within the state’s legal cannabis program. These figures highlight the expansion of regulated cannabis commerce in the region.
Michigan’s cannabis market is facing shrinkage with closures and layoffs as a newly enacted wholesale tax adds financial strain, leading some retailers and operators to reduce operations or shut down. Local reports link the market contraction to competitive pressures and higher costs associated with the tax.
From the swamp
A Democratic U.S. senator expressed significant concern about how the Department of Justice will manage cannabis rescheduling under federal law, signaling ongoing uncertainty about timing and policy direction at the federal level.
Sprouts is starting to carry drinks infused with THC despite the looming federal ban.
