Unlicensed D.C. cannabis gifting shop raided despite starting transition to the legal market
A placarded business, Kaliiva in Adams Morgan, was raided by D.C. police. Six employees were arrested, and the shop was shut down. The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration previously said that shops that were acting in good faith to transition to a legal market would not face enforcement while in the process of getting licensed. Of course, ABCA could only speak for itself.
The Department of Health, DC Licensing and Consumer Protection and MPD can act independently of ABCA and conduct inspections. DLCP performed a regular business license check and flavored tobacco inspection of Kaliiva on Wednesday accompanied by MPD. This inspection was independent of the medical cannabis licensing process with ABCA. According to MPD’s incident report, police executed a raid after a DLCP investigator “observed narcotics that the location did not have license to sell.” According to MPD’s incident report, police executed a raid after a DLCP investigator “observed narcotics that the location did not have license to sell.”
- Seven new protest hearings were announced for a summer garden and six new medical cannabis licenses.
Maryland to hold social equity lottery this week for cannabis licenses despite lawsuits
The Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) announced last week that the lottery drawings for social equity cannabis licenses will be held on Thursday, Mar. 14, 2024. This is the first opportunity for new businesses to get adult-use licenses since legalization last summer.
The lottery comes after a two and half month delay. It was supposed to be held at the beginning of the year. This first wave of the lottery aims to create opportunities for those disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs to participate in the state’s expanding cannabis industry.
Up to 179 applicants will be selected from a pool of over 1,500 who met the social equity requirements. These applications represent various license types, including standard and micro dispensaries, growers and processors.
- Multi-state cannabis operator fined $55,000 in Maryland for skipping ownership approval
- The Jensen’s suit against MCA is progressing to the US Court of appeals after a Maryland judge rejected it.
Virginia retail launch breaks down
Virginia’s marijuana legalization efforts appear stalled after Democrats rejected Governor Youngkin’s plan for a new sports arena. The governor had hinted at a possible deal that included approving marijuana legalization alongside the arena project, but with the arena plan dead, Youngkin seems less likely to sign the marijuana bill.
East Coast Round Up
Ten hemp companies sued New York cannabis regulators again in federal court, claiming lost revenue due to new rules and unfair targeting in the state’s fight against the illicit market.
New York City officials say that landlords are evicting illegal weed stores due to new fines.
New Hampshire’s House passed bills expanding medical cannabis access, while the debate on full marijuana legalization continues.
The US Department of Homeland Security is partnering with New York City and state law enforcement to investigate large-scale cannabis smuggling across state lines.
Around the country
Hawaii’s Senate passed a bill legalizing recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older. The legislation now moves to the House, where advocates hope for amendments before it potentially becomes law in 2026.
Voters in Humboldt County, California overwhelmingly threw out a measure that would have severely restricted marijuana cultivation, with nearly 73% rejecting it at the polls.
A new study suggests marijuana users, both recreational and medical, report less memory loss and confusion compared to non-users.
A small California cannabis chain, Mercy Wellness, is suing a city council after being denied a retail license. They allege that political contributions from competing applicants influenced the decision.
From the Swamp
Cannabis rescheduling is once again fueling speculation as Biden grasps for a cannabis boost in the election without delivering an update on actual rescheduling. The DEA is reportedly resisting the White House’s efforts, according to administrators.
A new report by the U.S. Sentencing Commission shows a continued decline in federal marijuana trafficking cases as more states legalize cannabis
Shrooms
California’s unregulated “magic mushroom” chocolates raise safety concerns as lab tests find some laced with a potentially toxic synthetic drug.
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