D.C. medical dispensary shut down in ongoing crackdown on illegal cannabis sales

D.C. reaches 100th illegal cannabis business closure under emergency enforcement law

DC regulators and police have shuttered their 100th illegal cannabis business since launching emergency enforcement actions in 2024, underscoring the city’s aggressive crackdown on unlicensed operators as officials point to public safety gains.

• The next ABC Board meeting is Jan. 14 & 16, 2026: watch, agenda.
• ABC Board meeting schedule for 2026.
• December metric sales data
• If federal officials follow through on President Trump’s executive order to reclassify cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, it could remove the congressional block preventing Washington, D.C. from establishing a regulated recreational cannabis market and finally allow legal sales after years of prohibition

Maryland dispensary storehouse fined $10K following cannabis tracking violations

The Maryland Cannabis Administration has fined Baltimore dispensary Storehouse $10,000 following an investigation into inventory tracking violations. Regulators said an employee diverted cannabis products while falsely recording them as green waste in Metrc. Storehouse cooperated with investigators, fired the employee, and reported the conduct to police.

How to stay informed as Virginia gears up for a pivotal year in legal cannabis

As the 2026 General Assembly session approaches, cannabis is expected to be a major focus in Virginia. Lawmakers may revisit adult-use retail, medical cannabis expansion, and enforcement measures. The Cannabis Control Authority (CCA) will provide updates on legislation during upcoming board meetings. Residents and industry stakeholders can track bills, watch committee meetings live, and connect with legislators using official state tools. Staying informed early is key as proposals begin to take shape. We’ve gathered all the links you need to stay informed in one place. 

• The next CCA meeting is Feb. 17, 1-3 P.M. 
• A newly filed Virginia bill would require health care facilities to allow terminally ill patients with a doctor’s recommendation to use medical marijuana on site, though smoking and vaping would be prohibited and use must be documented in medical records. 
• A formerly incarcerated man turned cannabis industry advocate says that legalization has not repaired the harms of the War on Drugs, arguing that equity efforts often fail to meaningfully include people most affected by prohibition and incarceration. 

ICYMI: D.C. medical dispensary shut down in ongoing crackdown on illegal cannabis sales

East Coast Roundup

A Delaware lawmaker proposed a bill to decriminalize smoking marijuana in public by converting criminal penalties into modest civil fines while still prohibiting public consumption, responding to hundreds of public consumption charges in 2024. The proposal aims to reduce harsh consequences for a legal activity without giving a green light to open public use.

The New Hampshire House passed a set of bills that would legalize adult recreational marijuana possession and create a framework for licensed sales while allowing existing medical dispensaries to convert to for-profit businesses, along with protections for past convictions and voter referendums on local retail. These measures reflect a significant step toward ending prohibition in the state and expanding the regulated cannabis market.

Culture & More

The DEA is spotlighting how money laundering became a federal crime through a historical artifact tied to an illegal drug operation. The feature is part of the agency’s public education effort on the evolution of drug enforcement and financial crime investigations.

Coss Marte is building a legal cannabis business in New York after serving prison time for operating an underground drug enterprise. His story highlights how justice-impacted individuals are navigating the transition from prohibition to participation in the regulated cannabis economy.

Around the Country 

Wisconsin lawmakers are considering competing bipartisan bills to create new regulatory frameworks for hemp-derived THC products in response to growing consumer demand and confusion over current policy. The proposals aim to address public safety and labeling standards as federal hemp laws shift and more intoxicating products enter the market. 

Texas regulators have floated proposed rules that would dramatically increase licensing fees for hemp THC retailers and manufacturers — jumping from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands annually — and introduce stricter testing and age requirements. Industry advocates warn that the fee hikes could force many small businesses to close and reshape the state’s hemp market. 

Two bills introduced in the 2026 Indiana legislative session would put legal cannabis on the table by creating a regulatory structure for recreational marijuana, including licensed sales and adult possession limits. These proposals represent a fresh push in a state that has historically resisted legalization amid ongoing public debate and multiple prior legislative efforts. 

From the swamp

The Senate confirmed President Trump’s nominee to lead the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, a former journalist who has voiced support for medical cannabis and described cannabis reform as a bipartisan issue. Her role could influence how the administration approaches the ongoing federal cannabis rescheduling process as Trump pushes to complete it. 

The Drug Enforcement Administration reports that an appeal in the cannabis rescheduling administrative process is still pending, with no briefing schedule set, even after Trump’s executive order directing the attorney general to expedite a move from Schedule I to Schedule III. Meanwhile, opponents have signaled plans to challenge or reverse any rescheduling once finalized. 

The U.S. House passed a spending bill that keeps in place long-standing protections preventing the Justice Department from interfering with state medical cannabis programs while dropping earlier language aimed at stopping federal rescheduling efforts. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration amid broader federal cannabis policy debates.