On October 30, 2024, the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration’s (ABCA) Enforcement Division, accompanied by Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers, served Closure Orders to an illegal cannabis business: Safe House, located at 335 H Street, NE. Washington DC. Two days earlier, the joint agency enforcement team served Closure Orders to VIP Clientele located at 3551 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 in violation of a Cease and Desist Order.
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 business closures and observed illegal products in plain sight inside both stores. A search warrant was obtained and executed at both locations.
At VIP Clientele, Investigators recovered nearly 2 lbs. of marijuana, over 46 grams of THC wax, and 10 grams of entheogenic mushrooms.
At Safe House, Investigators recovered more than 11 lbs. of marijuana, 164 grams of entheogenic mushrooms, 92 grams of entheogenic mushroom-laced edibles, and more than 2 lbs. of THC laced edibles.
The closures of Safe House and VIP Clientele follow ABCA’s padlocking of Coupons R Us at 6234 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington DC on October 24. The closure notice was issued by the ABC Board following MPD’s discovery of illegal cannabis sales when investigating a reported burglary at the location.
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 twelve (12) 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 29 Cease and Desist Orders and 87 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 that 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 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].