DOJ attorney warns D.C. dispensary over proximity to schools
U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., a Trump appointee known for his conservative activism and defense of Jan. 6 rioters, sent a letter to Green Theory, a licensed D.C. cannabis dispensary, expressing concern about its location near multiple schools, citing potential federal law violations. Martin, who heads the U.S. attorney’s office for D.C. and has overseen dismissals in Jan. 6 cases, foreshadowed possible federal prosecution despite local legality. The reason for targeting Green Theory remains unclear, as other dispensaries share similar proximity to schools. Green Theory declined to comment, and responses from ABCA and the Mayor’s office are pending.
- D.C. authorities shut down their 50th illegal cannabis shop, Orbit D.C., connected to the National Hip Hop Museum, according to a patch.com article.
- The next ABC Board Meeting is Apr. 30 at 10:30 A.M., watch, agenda.
Maryland school administrators removed a student from campus Friday morning after finding cannabis, drug paraphernalia, a handgun, and ammunition in their possession. The Charles County Sheriff’s Office is investigating. Staff initiated a search after detecting a strong odor of cannabis when the student arrived, leading to the discovery and confiscation of the items.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed a law allowing Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) to bypass the state’s five-year transfer restriction for social equity cannabis licenses. ESOPs let owners transfer business stakes to employee trusts, which offer tax advantages and sidestepping 280E..
Gov. Wes Moore is expected to sign the Expungement Reform Act of 2025, a bill he championed to broaden access to record clearing in Maryland. The legislation follows years of advocacy from residents like Harold Coleman Jr., who has long urged lawmakers to expand expungement eligibility. A 2022 ruling by the Appellate Court of Maryland barred expungement for individuals who violated probation—even for minor infractions—but that’s set to change under the new law.
ICYMI: New investigation reveals D.C. cannabis enforcement failures stifled legal market growth
East Coast Roundup
Eric Adams, New York City Mayor, recently campaigned at Sweetlife, a licensed cannabis store, unaware it had previously been shut down for selling THC edibles without authorization.
A sharp increase in cannabis-related lobbying activity reported, as Pennsylvania lawmakers weigh adult-use legalization proposals. Industry and advocacy groups are intensifying efforts to influence the outcome.
Lt. Gov. John Rodgers and the Vermont Senate are reviewing sweeping cannabis bill amendments that would impact taxation, product types, and regulatory enforcement.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong is backing legislation to give his office more authority to pursue enforcement against unlicensed cannabis operations. The bill also targets deceptive THC product marketing.
Culture & More
A new study found that frequent cannabis users in Canada slightly reduced their use and misuse following legalization. Meanwhile, occasional and first-time users showed small increases in both. Notably, consumption patterns shifted from traditional forms like flower, hashish, and concentrates toward edibles and vape pens.
A new poll revealed that three in four cannabis consumers support non-cannabis businesses advocating their brands that resonates with the festival.
Wynk, a hemp beverage brand, is expanding its THC-infused seltzers to Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Wisconsin.
Around the Country
Missouri counties are defending their right to impose a 3% cannabis sales tax before the state supreme court. Robust Missouri Dispensary 3 LLC argues the tax should only apply in unincorporated areas.
Minnesota’s new cannabis regulations now officially allow the Office of Cannabis Management to begin issuing licenses. Established companies and a wave of microbusiness applicants on tribal land are expected to serve consumers ahead of larger retailers, who will go through a license lottery later this summer.
A Texas state court on Thursday overturned an Austin law that barred police from citing or arresting individuals for possessing small amounts of cannabis.
A federal judge in New Mexico has dismissed a medical cannabis seller’s lawsuit against three insurers, ruling that state law does not require coverage for medical cannabis—and even if it did, such a mandate would be preempted by federal law.
From the swamp
The University of Mississippi—long the sole institution federally authorized to grow cannabis for research—is serving as the new NIH-funded Resource Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research (R3CR). The National Institutes of Health first announced the launch of R3CR in late 2023.
Trump’s Solicitor General is asking the Supreme Court for more time to decide whether to appeal a February ruling that challenged the federal ban on gun ownership for cannabis users.
