In a direct challenge to local cannabis operations, U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. recently delivered a stern warning to Green Theory, a D.C.-permitted pot dispensary, for conducting business too close to educational establishments. Martin's concerns drew directly from federal statutes, which clash with the more permissive attitudes found at the city level, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The dispensary, operating at 4828 MacArthur Blvd., NW, has been identified as being within 1,000 feet of several schools including Our Lady of Victory Catholic School, the River School, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School, and Little Ivies preschool. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office that SFist reviewed, Martin said, "I am concerned that you are in violation of federal laws, which are intended to protect children. To that end, the need to address this issue is serious."
In Martin's correspondence with Green Theory, there were three questions posed to elicit the dispensary's compliance stance: awareness of federal law pertaining to marijuana dispensaries' proximity to schools, prior discussions with federal law enforcement about this issue, and the existence of any documents that could demonstrate their adherence to these federal laws. "Your dispensary appears to be operating in violation of federal law, and the Department of Justice has the authority to enforce federal law even when such activities may be permitted under state or local law," he warned. These lines, drawn from the U.S. Attorney's Office, carry the weight of potential prosecutions and civil actions—looming large over the proprietors and associated operators of Green Theory.
The clash between local and federal stances on marijuana has been a persistent theme since states began shifting towards legalization and decriminalization. With Green Theory now in the crosshairs, both the industry and the D.C. community await the dispensary's response, and more broadly, how this contention might affect future pot policies at the intersection of federal law and local practice.
