On September 25, 2024, authorities seized marijuana laced with amphetamines during a dispensary shutdown in Northwest Washington DC. The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration’s (ABCA) Enforcement Division, accompanied by Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers, served a Closure Order to the owner of Flight Pass/Green Room, an unlicensed cannabis business located at 1338 U Street, NW. This significant action highlights the ongoing efforts to crack down on illegal cannabis operations in the city.
The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis (ABC) Board issued the Closure Order in response to Flight Pass/Green Room’s continued operation as an unlicensed cannabis retailer, violating a prior Cease and Desist Order. The business was deemed to pose a credible and imminent danger to public health and safety, leading ABCA to shutter the establishment by padlocking its doors.
During the closure, MPD officers and investigators from the Violent Crime Suppression Division observed illegal products in plain sight. A search warrant was obtained and executed at the establishment. Investigators recovered a significant quantity of illicit substances, including:
- 1,458 grams of marijuana laced with suspected amphetamines
- 112.72 grams of THC-laced edibles
- 1,736 grams of THC wax
- 11.65 grams of THC capsules
- 9.8 grams of THC vape cartridges
- 11 grams of THC oil
- 59 grams of entheogenic mushrooms
No arrests were made at the time, and the investigation is ongoing. The business owners have the right to request an emergency hearing within five business days after receiving the Closure Order. If requested, the ABC Board must hold a hearing within five business days of the request and issue a determination within five business days of the hearing date.
Before regaining access to the property, the owners may be required to submit a remediation plan for Board approval, detailing how they will prevent future illegal cannabis sales on the premises. The ABC Board also has the authority to issue a $10,000 fine to each property owner.
This latest action marks the fifth illegal cannabis business closure by ABCA since the enactment of Bill 25-872, the Medical Cannabis Conditional License and Unlicensed Establishment Closure Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2024, which granted the agency new civil enforcement powers effective July 15, 2024.
The previously closed businesses are:
- Supreme Terpene, 1344 U Street, NW (September 5, 2024)
- Green Cloud Shop, 706 Kennedy Street, NW (September 13, 2024)
- All American Papers, 504 H Street, NE (September 18, 2024)
- StonerzDC, 521 H Street, NE (September 18, 2024)
To date, ABCA has issued 26 Cease and Desist Orders and 84 written warning letters to illegal cannabis businesses that did not apply for a medical cannabis business license during the open application period for unlicensed operators.
Per DC law, unlicensed businesses that applied during the specific open application period are exempt from ABCA enforcement actions until September 30, 2024, or within 180 days of Board approval, whichever date is later.
Following the issuance of a Cease and Desist Order, ABCA sends a certified letter to each property owner where an illegal cannabis business is operating, advising them that they may be subject to civil and criminal penalties for failing to immediately cease all illegal cannabis activity. This latest dispensary shutdown in Northwest DC underscores the city’s commitment to enforcing cannabis regulations and ensuring public safety.
