Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb's office, in coordination with the District Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration and the Metropolitan Police Department, has shut down 25 unlicensed cannabis retailers in the District over six months as part of an enforcement effort targeting 38 unauthorized establishments. The initiative seeks to address the sale of unregulated cannabis products, which may contain harmful substances. "For too long, unlicensed cannabis stores have been illegally selling unregulated, untested products that put District residents' safety at risk," Schwalb said, according to the Office of the Attorney General.
The District's 2023 legislation provided a legal pathway for 'gifting shops' to enter the regulated medical cannabis market, but some continued operating without the required licenses. During enforcement operations, Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration, Metropolitan Police Department, and the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection tested cannabis products and reported instances of contamination with substances like amphetamines and psilocybin. Authorities also seized weapons, cash, cocaine, and other controlled substances. In one instance, shop owners attempted to regain access to a closed location twice before it was permanently shut down. Another operation resulted in an arrest and the confiscation of over 35 pounds of cannabis flower, 22 pounds of THC edibles, 6 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, and other items, as reported by the Office of the Attorney General.
In July 2024, Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration issued cease-and-desist orders against unlicensed cannabis shops, and by September, with support from the Office of the Attorney General, the first noncompliant store, Supreme Terpene, was shut down. Other businesses, including Green Cloud Shop, All American Papers, and Farmerz/Stonerz, either closed or complied with regulations. Some, like Hidden Gym, LLC, and Power Night Club, reopened as non-cannabis retailers, while District Smoke Shop's licensed unit remains operational with its unlicensed section shut down. The enforcement actions were led by Assistant Attorneys General Shani Brown, Anthony Celo, Collin Cenci, Alycia Hogenmiller, Sophia Mietus, and Christopher Southcott, under the supervision of CES Chief Kimberley Johnson and Assistant Chief Kerslyn Featherstone, as stated by the Office of the Attorney General.
