D.C. regulators and the Metropolitan Police Department shut down three more unlicensed cannabis storefronts this month, slapping padlocks on doors and hauling away products as the city’s weed crackdown grinds on. Six people were arrested in the latest round of enforcement, which targeted Green Magic on Georgia Avenue NW, Smoke Island on Wisconsin Avenue NW and Top Mart on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE. Industry reporting says the newest closures pushed the total number of padlocked unlicensed storefronts into the triple digits, a move officials say is meant to protect medical patients and shore up the city’s licensed retailers.
The shutdowns were first detailed in industry outlets and local coverage of Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) and MPD enforcement activity. The clampdown follows emergency legislation passed in 2024 that clarified ABCA’s authority to inspect unlicensed establishments, seize contraband and summarily close businesses the agency views as a public health threat. According to The Outlaw Report and the D.C. Council’s emergency amendment, regulators have leaned on those new civil tools to shutter illicit retailers.
Seizures and arrests
Investigators reported their biggest haul at Smoke Island during a June 4 action, where they say they recovered nearly 30 pounds of cannabis along with THC-infused edibles and vape cartridges and arrested four people. At Green Magic, officers reported seizing more than 16 pounds of cannabis, roughly 900 grams of psilocybin mushroom products and a range of THC concentrates, leading to the arrest of a 51-year-old Silver Spring resident. The June 12 closure at Top Mart produced a smaller seizure and the arrest of a 52-year-old Pasadena resident, and industry reporting says the combined actions bring the city’s tally of padlocked unlicensed storefronts to 113.
As reported by MMJDaily, officials say the seized products and the presence of unregulated items were central reasons cited for the summary closures.
Why the city is stepping up
City leaders have framed the campaign as a patient-safety and public-health push that is supposed to cut off unregulated supply chains and level the playing field for licensed medical cannabis retailers. The Mayor’s office highlighted the strategy earlier this year when the city announced its 100th padlocked illegal shop, saying the emergency amendment gives regulators faster civil tools to act against suspected offenders. That message, focused on public safety and support for the regulated medical market, has been the consistent storyline from local officials.
Details on the Mayor’s announcement are available from the Mayor’s office.
How to report unlicensed retailers
Residents who suspect illegal cannabis sales can file an anonymous complaint through ABCA’s online portal or call the agency directly. ABCA says complaints typically receive a response within 24 hours and that investigators may seize contraband when they observe violations. The agency also maintains a searchable list of licensed medical cannabis retailers for patients who want regulated alternatives. For background on the wider enforcement sweep, see Hoodline’s earlier coverage of a March padlock sweep that hit three shops across the city.
According to ABCA, the public is encouraged to report suspected unlicensed activity so investigators can follow up. That same call for tips also appears in Hoodline’s report on a weeklong weed crackdown, underscoring how central public complaints have become to the city’s cannabis enforcement strategy.
