Tag: ABCA
-
Unlicensed D.C. Storefront Permanently Shuttered Under Strict Settlement
Excerpt: An unlicensed storefront in Northeast Washington has agreed to permanently shut its doors rather than fight District regulators in court. The D.C. Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis (ABC) Board approved a strict settlement with Capitol CBD, permanently maintaining the store’s summary closure and banning its operators from selling cannabis, hemp, Kratom, or psychedelic mushrooms anywhere…
-
Federal challenge to D.C.’s cannabis licensing system dropped, but Commerce Clause fight looms
Plus Virginia frees 1,000 from cannabis convictions, Bristol raids net $1M, and unregulated smoke shop products are sending people to the hospital
-
Federal challenge to D.C.’s cannabis licensing system dropped, but Commerce Clause fight could loom
A federal constitutional challenge to D.C.’s cannabis licensing system was voluntarily dismissed May 8, 2026, leaving dormant Commerce Clause questions unresolved and the door open for future litigation.
-
Info Session for D.C. Non-Social Equity Cannabis Retailer Applications Tomorrow
The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) is holding an informational session for individuals interested in applying for a medical cannabis retailer or internet retailer license as a non-social equity applicant. Who Should Attend This session is designed for those interested in applying for a cannabis retailer or internet retailer license in Washington D.C. during…
-
New D.C. existing legal weed biz alliance sends letter to I-71 landlords claiming $600M damages
Over the last week at least five separate landlords for I-71 shops some that choose to transition to D.C.’s licensed market were served a legal letter demanding they compensate existing legal dispensaries for $600 million in financial damages. The letter alleges that in renting to gray market gifting shops, landlords “breached their duty of care…
-
New enforcement records reveal D.C. unlicensed cannabis shop locations
D.C.’s Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) is cracking down on unlicensed cannabis shops. Since gaining new enforcement powers in April, they’ve issued warnings to 38 shops, but that’s just a fraction of the estimated hundreds operating illegally. Newly released records reveal the location of every business that has been warned by ABCA. Most shops…
-
D.C. man convicted of cannabis trafficking involved in failed DRC coup
Benjamin Zalman-Polun, a Maryland resident with a past cannabis conviction, was among three Americans caught in a failed coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the Associated Press. The operation was led by Christian Malanga, a Congolese-American with whom Zalman-Polun appears to have connected through a gold mining company. Zalman-Polun’s background reveals…
-
Bowser aims to strip $6.5M from D.C. cannabis social equity fund
Mayor Muriel Bowser’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2025 would strip millions of medical cannabis programs funds for social equity entrepreneurs. Bowser’s April proposal strips half a billion in cuts throughout the city’s budget in an attempt to recover a $700 million budget shortfall this year. Cuts included reductions in emergency rental assistance and child…
-
D.C. goes after gray market cannabis shops, over 30 shops warned
This article was updated on May 14, 2024 to include the total number of enforcements by ABCA. The District of Columbia is unable to set up a recreational medical market due to its lack of statehood, but it’s still trying its best to provide medical cannabis to anyone who self-registers as a patient. But the…
-
End of social equity cannabis retail application period in D.C. brings supply questions
The second to final application round for The District of Columbia’s medical cannabis expansion ended Tuesday. Over the last year, The Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Administration held separate periods for applicants starting with cultivators and manufacturers almost a year ago. The three periods brought in hundreds of applicants that were awarded conditional licenses to spend…
-
D.C. agency gets more power to go after unlicensed cannabis shops
The District of Columbia’s medical cannabis program has been going through growing pains as it expands, but the regulatory agency, The Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Administration, has its most recent solution: a new set of emergency rules and D.C. council Act that give ABCA power to shut down the D.C. gifting market. Since D.C. started…
-
D.C. Enacts Medical Marijuana Patient Card Extension and Tax Holiday
The District of Columbia has implemented significant changes for medical marijuana patients, extending the validity period for registration cards and offering a temporary tax break on purchases. Signed by Mayor Muriel Bowser on April 8th, the new law streamlines the registration process for qualifying patients and caregivers. Previously, these cards expired every two years, requiring…