On May 21, 2025, the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration’s (ABCA) Enforcement Division, accompanied by Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers, implemented Closure Orders to the owners of Crown Tobacco located at 908 Florida Avenue NW, Washington, DC.

The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis (ABC) Board issued the Closure Orders in response to their continued operation as an unlicensed cannabis retailer. Due to the business posing a credible and imminent danger to public health and safety, ABCA shuttered the business, including padlocking the doors.

MPD officers and investigators from the Violent Crime Suppression Division accompanied ABCA during the closures and observed illegal products. Search warrants were obtained and executed.

Investigators recovered nearly 5 grams of marijuana and 53 grams of THC vapes.

The business owners may request a hearing before the ABC Board. Prior to access to the properties being returned to the property owners, the ABC Board may require the property owners to submit for Board approval, a remediation plan addressing how they will actively prevent future illegal cannabis sales on-premises. The ABC Board also has the authority to issue a $10,000 fine to each property owner.

The joint agency enforcement efforts have padlocked 55 illegal cannabis businesses since Bill 25-872, the Medical Cannabis Conditional License and Unlicensed Establishment Closure Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2024, which granted the agency with new civil enforcement powers, took effect on July 15, 2024.

Questions regarding: 

• Medical cannabis licensing and enforcement should be directed to ABCA at [email protected].  

• Illegal product seizure and arrests should be directed to MPD at [email protected].