On March 17, 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 Budz and Roses located at 1203 U Street NW, Washington DC. On March 18, 2025, Closure Orders were implemented to Street Lawyer Services located at 409 H Street NE, and Sneaker Headz located at 3501-B Georgia Avenue NW, Washington DC.

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

MPD officers and investigators from the Violent Crime Suppression Division accompanied ABCA during the closure and observed illegal products. A search warrant was obtained and executed.

At Budz and Roses, investigators recovered more than 2.8 pounds of marijuana, 50 grams of mushroom edibles, 975 grams of THC edibles, and over 373 grams of THC vapes. 

At Street Lawyer Services, investigators recovered just under a pound of marijuana, 25.5 grams of THC edibles, and 78 grams of THC vapes.

At Sneaker Headz, investigators recovered more than half a pound of marijuana and 8.5 grams of THC edibles. Forty-four-year-old Forrest Hayward Jr., of Newburg, MD, was arrested and charged with Distribution of Marijuana.

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 forty (40) 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.

To date, ABCA has issued 43 Cease and Desist Orders and 114 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 have a pending application filed during that specific open application period are exempt from ABCA enforcement actions until March 31, 2025.

Following the issuance of a Cease and Desist Order, ABCA sends by certified mail a letter to each property owner where an illegal cannabis business is operating advising them that they may personally be subject to civil and criminal penalties for failure to immediately cease all illegal cannabis activity.

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].