The D.C. Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) has issued guidance to unlicensed medical cannabis retailers and internet retailers who applied during the open application period for unlicensed applicants, setting a firm deadline of March 31, 2025, for licensure and operation.
Establishments must have their licenses issued and be actively selling cannabis products to registered medical patients by this date or be closed down and lose their license.
According to the ABCA, businesses must be fully operational by the deadline, including employee registration, METRC system setup and the ability to sell cannabis products sourced from licensed D.C. cultivators or manufacturers. Establishments must also pass a certified alarm test and a final ABCA inspection, and submit all outstanding documentation.
Those failing to meet the March 31 deadline will face license denial or rescission of Board approval, with no possibility of extension. Starting April 1, 2025, the ABCA will begin enforcement actions against non-compliant businesses, including potential seizure of illegal cannabis products and summary closures. Businesses that are closed have five business days to request a hearing before the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board.
The ABCA emphasizes that even licensed businesses must source their cannabis products from licensed D.C. cultivators or manufacturers. Failure to do so could result in license revocation. Questions regarding METRC setup should be directed to Nick McLean at nick.mclean@dc.gov, while general licensing inquiries can be sent to abca.cannabisLicensing@dc.gov.
Read the guidance here.
