New Law Permitting Closures of Unlicensed Cannabis Businesses Takes Effect

ABC Board Now Issuing Cease-and-Desist Orders to Noncompliant Businesses 

On July 15, 2024, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the “Medical Cannabis Conditional License and Unlicensed Establishment Closure Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2024.”  The emergency legislation is now in effect and permits the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) to summarily close and padlock unlicensed businesses that pose an imminent danger to public health and safety--this includes unlicensed businesses that fail to comply with Cease-and-Desist Orders.  

Since March 2024, ABCA has been conducting joint agency inspections of unlicensed cannabis businesses across the District with DC Health, the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, and the Metropolitan Police Department.  

To date, ABCA has issued written warnings—the first step in ABCA’s tiered enforcement schedule—to 55 unlicensed cannabis businesses. Since July 3, 2024, the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board (ABC Board) has issued eight (8) Cease and Desist Orders to unlicensed businesses determined to still be in violation. Hearing entitlements are detailed in the legislation.  

Cease-and-Desist Orders are public documents and will be published on ABCA’s website following ABC Board issuance.  

ABCA strongly encourages eligible members of the public who need cannabis for medical purposes to: 

  • Register for a medical cannabis patient registration. 


  • DC residents 18 years or older may register online for a patient registration valid for six (6) years for free. Individuals at least 21 years of age may self-certify in lieu of getting a recommendation from their healthcare professional.


  • Non-DC residents that are at least 21 years of age may register online for a patient registration valid for periods between three (3) days to one (1) year in length. Alternatively, non-DC residents may use their patient registration issued by a jurisdiction approved for reciprocity to legally purchase cannabis products. 

  • Only purchase products from DC’s licensed medical cannabis businesses found on ABCA’s website.  

  • Report suspected unlicensed cannabis businesses, including delivery services, using ABCA’s online complaint form. Complaints may be submitted anonymously. 


For additional information, contact ABCA’s Public Information Officer Mary McNamara at mary.mcnamara@dc.gov.  

ALERTThe Advoc8teABRAComment