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DC AG shuts down weed shops across the city

Jason Beck

4 minutes ago3 min read

OG Article

Samantha Gilstrap, Leslie Moreno

February 27, 2025

Investigators found marijuana products were often mixed with amphetamine and other narcotics without the customers knowing.

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Author: Samantha Gilstrap, Leslie Moreno

Published: 12:26 PM EST February 27, 2025

Updated: 4:57 PM EST February 27, 2025

WASHINGTON — The DC Attorney General has shut down several illegal weed shops across the city after discovering the products were being mixed with amphetamine and other narcotics.

At least 25 stores across the District have been closed since the start of the investigation, and 38 stores face other consequences.

“For too long, unlicensed cannabis stores have been illegally selling unregulated, untested products that put District residents’ safety at risk,” said Attorney General Schwalb. “All so-called ‘gifting shops’ were given ample time to apply for legal medical marijuana licenses, but many failed or refused to do so. OAG, ABCA, and MPD have partnered to shut down these illegal retailers demonstrating our collective commitment to ensuring that every store selling cannabis products in the District complies with the law and plays by the rules.”

In 2023, the DC Council expanded the medical cannabis system and legalized gifting shops within the regulated market. Added legislation then gave investigators the power to go after businesses that failed to apply for medical licenses and continued to operate in the illegal gifting market.

Stephanie Litos, the Senior Council for Attorney General for Trials and Complex Litigation and one of the lead attorneys on this investigation said those 25 shops were given ample time to comply.

“Shops chose not to do that and not follow the rules. The time for shops to apply for a legal license has closed. They were provided a year and a half- it ended in July 2024." Litos, said.

Over a six-month period, investigators bought and tested several products from these stores. They often found the weed tested positive for other narcotics, including amphetamines and psilocybin.

In some cases, investigators found weapons, cash, cocaine and other illegal drugs while executing search warrants.

“People are going into shops, thinking they are buying cannabis but, instead they are buying and ingesting stuff that’s not just cannabis but, laced with another dangerous drugs.” Litos, said.

After being forced to close, authorities say the owners of one unlicensed business twice broke into the shuttered location and changed the locks before being permanently shut down. Another closure led to the arrest of an owner and the recovery of over 35 pounds of cannabis flower, 22 pounds of THC edibles, six pounds of psylocibin mushrooms and edibles, two pounds of cocaine, two pounds of methamphetamine, $6,817.72 cash, a semi-automatic handgun, and 10 dogs from the premises.

“There are licensed medical marijuana shops they can legally shop at. If they go to an unlicensed, they are running a risk that what they are smoking is laced with other drugs they are not aware of.” Litos, said.

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Users can find a list of legal cannabis shops on the District Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration website.

In July of 2024, the District Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) began issuing cease-and-desist orders to unlicensed businesses, and in September 2024, with the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) collaboration, successfully closed the first shop that failed to comply, Supreme Terpene. Since then, the following shops have been closed or have come into compliance: