East Capitol Weed Shop Proposal Runs Aground on City Regs

East Capitol Weed Shop Proposal Runs Aground on City Regs

by Larry Janezich

Posted June 9, 2025

East Capitol Weed Shop Proposal Runs Aground on City Regs

by Larry Janezich

Posted June 9, 2025

Well, this didn’t take long.  After receiving more than 50 emails since yesterday, this morning CM Charles Allen updated constituents on the proposed weed shop on East Capitol.  The update came, he said, after a conversation with Fred Moosally, the head of DC’s Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA). 

The bottom line is that ABCA confirmed:

• “There has been no cannabis retailer application filed for this address. Any sales taking place would be illegal and ABCA will have investigators looking into this.

• The signage (in particular, the cartoon marijuana leaf with a rolled joint) is not allowed with our laws for cannabis retailer advertising.  ABCA will be following up on that.

• Even if there was a license application and the signs were lawful, this location and property is zoned residential, so DC law does not allow a cannabis retailer here anyway. They will not be allowed to open as a legal and lawful business. And if they try to operate as an illegal business, ABCA has the tools necessary to close them down and even padlock the doors.”

Allen also said that ABCA has not approved the request to renew the retail liquor license and the Board will be apprised of the issue and the findings of the ABCA investigation before considering the renewal.  He credited ANC6B Commissioner, Jerry Sroufe, for being active on this and for pushing ABCA to recognize the potential change in this store from their previous presentation and commitments to the ANC.

Allen added, “What we’ve seen is a clear departure from what this business proposed to the ANC, ABCA, and to the community.  It’s bad faith and I will work to make sure that ABCA and the Executive agencies follow through on their commitments to us.”