Yutong Jiang contributed to this newsletter.
New manufacturers boost D.C. monthly sales, consumer sales continue to flatline
The ABCA’s January 2025 sales report indicates growth in D.C.’s cannabis market, despite initial data errors that have since been corrected. The sales increase, exceeding half a million dollars compared to January 2024, is primarily attributed to a surge in manufacturer sales due to new product availability. This growth is likely fueled by an increase in open dispensaries and manufacturers, potentially leading to future expansion in patient sales this year.
Fake news, hit piece
Tokers Guide, which used to advertise for I-71 shops, spread inaccurate information in an opinion article posted on its website last week. The unnamed author incorrectly accused legal dispensaries of selling unlicensed products which were in fact medical legal products. They updated the article with a strange half correction but left the article up. We are not linking the article as it does not contain accurate information. There have been two licensed dispensaries shut down for selling unlicensed products – they were both shut down within weeks of operating illegally. It was a fake news, inflammatory piece of propaganda and a great reminder of why it is important to read news from an independent news source that has an editorial fire wall between industry interests and news coverage, like the Outlaw Report.
- D.C. faces school crossing guard shortage due to cannabis-related drug test failures, despite legalization.
- Next ABC Board meeting Feb. 26 at 10:30 A.M., agenda, watch.
New Maryland County’s Bill Seeks to Revise Public Safety Drug Testing
In Prince George’s County, Maryland, Councilmember Krystal Oriadha introduced bill CB-016-2025, which seeks to prohibit the automatic exclusion of job applicants based solely on positive cannabis test outcomes. This measure aims to attract younger candidates who legally use cannabis in the state. Notably, the bill does not modify existing procedures for public safety personnel but proposes updates to drug testing policies to accommodate applicants with prior cannabis consumption
- Maryland’s “Second Chance Act” proposes allowing inmates who have served over 20 years to seek reduced sentences.
- U.S. District Court in MD rules against workplace use of medically prescribed cannabis
West Virginia cannabis business gets $4 million in refinancing
Harvest Care Medical, a West Virginia cannabis operator, has secured a $4 million refinancing deal to support its growth in the state. The refinancing will allow Harvest Care to expand its medical cannabis cultivation operations and dispensaries across West Virginia..
East Coast Roundup
For months, New York residents have expressed concerns about a planned cannabis shop in Queens. They fear that it could encourage youth cannabis use and lead to a rise in crime. Their worries intensified earlier this month when another dispensary opened nearby.
On Tuesday, dozens of protesters gathered in Queens, New York, to block a dispensary from opening just one block away from a Catholic elementary school. Around 40 local residents demonstrated outside the yet-to-open Canna Buddha at 215th Street and 39th Avenue in Bayside, arguing that the Office of Cannabis Management should never have issued the permit.
Octane Cannabis in Enfield, Connecticut, has reopened after an initial closure due to missing necessary permits. The dispensary submitted a $25,000 bond for pending site work, including aesthetic and safety enhancements, which must be completed by the end of May as per the town’s agreement.
Nautilus Botanicals, a hybrid medical and recreational cannabis dispensary, has opened at 63 Amity Road in New Haven, Connecticut. Owner Luis Vega emphasizes supporting local businesses by featuring local art and products. The grand opening is scheduled for this weekend, offering product specials and workshops.
Culture & More
An investigation revealed that a rogue lettings agency in the UK, Imperial Property Group, was renting properties and converting them into cannabis farms without the landlords’ knowledge. Many property owners returned to find their homes extensively damaged due to illegal cannabis cultivation
Brittney Griner, a U.S. professional basketball player who was formerly detained in Russia for cannabis possession, withdrew from a cannabis event after finding a message in her hotel room that she perceived as threatening.
Robert O’Neill, a former Navy SEAL who shot Osama Bin Laden, has launched a cannabis company called Operator Canna Co. in New York.The company aims to provide high-quality cannabis products as an alternative to substances that can lead to substance abuse, such as opioids and alcohol.
Las Vegas magician Ben Zabin astounds audiences by reading minds, performing intricate sleight of hand with bongs and lighters, and making jars of weed vanish before their eyes.
Around the Country
Minnesota lawmakers are seeking to repeal a law that requires illegal drug dealers to buy tax stamps on their goods. The bill to repeal the law has bipartisan support, with sponsors including Rep. Jessica Hanson and Sen. Clare Oumou Verbeten. The law is seen as outdated and unnecessary, especially given the state’s own taxation system for legal cannabis sales.
A Kansas Senate bill aimed at expanding access to experimental, individualized treatments for patients with rare or life-threatening conditions nearly became a venue for a debate on medical cannabis. Democratic Sen. Cindy Holscher proposed an amendment to include medicinal cannabis for terminally ill patients, clarifying that her narrow proposal was modeled after the Right to Try Act and was not intended to establish a broad medical cannabis program. Ultimately, while the bill passed the Senate and awaits House approval.
In South Carolina, where cannabis remains illegal, legislators are introducing a bill to regulate the sale of hemp-derived THC-infused products. The proposed legislation aims to clarify which products are permissible, addressing concerns over the unregulated sale of THC-infused drinks and edibles in the state.
From the swamp
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has put the brakes on efforts to reschedule cannabis, a move that would have reclassified it from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. Two Republican senators have introduced a bill to prevent cannabis businesses from deducting business expenses on their federal tax returns, citing concerns about addiction and public safety.The bill’s chances of passing are uncertain, with some analysts predicting that it may not have enough support to pass due to slim partisan margins in Congress.
Former President Donald Trump has selected Mike Stuart, a strong opponent of cannabis to serve as the lead attorney in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), earning approval from cannabis prohibition advocates.
Virginia congressman has reintroduced a bill aimed at providing military veterans with access to medical cannabis. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, filed the Veterans Equal Access Act last week—the latest attempt to enact the measure that’s enjoyed bipartisan support over recent sessions but has yet to become law.
