District of ColumbiaD.C. temporarily barred licensed medical cannabis businesses from selling listed drugs
The temporary law restricted sales of drugs on D.C.’s Schedule I list by licensed medical cannabis businesses and covered local sellers, and allowed urgent business closures.
What it does
During its 225-day term, the law barred licensed medical cannabis businesses and covered local sellers from selling, commercially exchanging, or delivering drugs on D.C.’s Schedule I list or products containing them. A pending license application did not exempt an unlicensed seller.
During the temporary law’s term, the cannabis board could close and padlock an unlicensed D.C. cannabis seller under its urgent closure rule, even if the seller had applied for a license.
During the temporary law’s term, officials could close and padlock a licensed medical cannabis business without a prior hearing, and seize covered goods, after an inspection found a listed immediate safety danger. The owner could request a hearing.
Under the temporary law, the board could keep a covered business closed and its goods seized while an immediate danger remained. It could continue after the danger ended if it reasonably expected the danger to return.
Argument forClosing a licensed medical cannabis business after inspectors find an immediate safety danger could keep people away from that danger.
Argument againstClosing a licensed medical cannabis business before a hearing could interrupt its work while the owner challenges an inspector’s finding of immediate danger.
More detail
The law prohibited covered businesses from selling, exchanging as part of a commercial deal, or delivering Schedule I drugs or products containing them. This covered licensed medical cannabis businesses. It also covered sellers operating at or delivering from a specific D.C. location if they sold cannabis without an agency license or sold Schedule I drugs. A pending license application did not exempt an unlicensed seller. The temporary law expired 225 days after taking effect.
The cannabis board could close and padlock an unlicensed cannabis seller under the urgent closure rule. This covered businesses selling or delivering cannabis at or from a specific D.C. location without one of the listed cannabis agency licenses. A pending license application did not prevent closure. The provision refers to closures after April 1, 2025. The law required mayoral approval, congressional review, and publication before taking effect.
The cannabis board could close and padlock a licensed medical cannabis business without a prior hearing, and agency staff or police could seize covered goods there. This covered licensed medical cannabis businesses and cannabis, Schedule I drugs, and products containing them found at the business. After an inspection, the cannabis agency had to find an immediate danger to public health and safety for one of the law’s listed reasons. Officials had to notify the business owner and property owner in writing and give the business owner a chance to request a hearing. The owner had five business days after receiving the closure notice to request a hearing. The board had five business days after a timely request to hold one.
The cannabis board could keep an urgent closure, padlock order, and seizure in place. This applied to urgent closures of unlicensed establishments and licensed medical cannabis businesses. The immediate danger had to remain, or the board had to reasonably judge that it was likely to return. The law expired 225 days after taking effect.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Jun 20Law L26-0010, Effective from Jun 10, 2025 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 006764, Expires on Jan 21, 2026Latest
- Apr 28Transmitted to CongressMinor
- Apr 25Act A26-0047 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 004892
- Apr 22Returned from Mayor
- Apr 22Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0047Became Law
- Apr 7Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Apr 22, 2025To Governor
- Apr 1Final Reading, CCMinor
- Vote recorded Final Reading, CC. Result: pass.Legislature
- Mar 7Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0163 Published in the District of Columbia Register
- Mar 4First ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded McDuffie and Mendelson (Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute). Result: pass.Legislature
- Vote recorded First Reading. Result: pass.Legislature
- Mar 4McDuffie and Mendelson (Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute)Major
- Mar 4Retained by the Council with comments from the Committee on Business and Economic DevelopmentMinor
- Feb 28B26-0163 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the SecretaryIntroduced
Public SafetyHealthcareConsumer Protection