District of Columbia2025Active

B26-0759

Medical Cannabis Licensing and Enforcement Changes for 2026

Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 4:28 AM

In one sentence

This law extends conditional medical cannabis licenses by one year, clarifies distance rules near schools, defines unlicensed establishments to include those selling Schedule I substances, and authorizes immediate closures of dangerous businesses.

Extends the term of conditional licenses for cultivation centers, retailers, internet retailers, manufacturers, couriers, and testing laboratories from two years to up to three years.
Allows applicants applying for a permanent license to submit either a zoning certificate or a certificate of occupancy.
Clarifies that selling Schedule I substances is illegal for both licensed and unlicensed establishments, even if the business has a pending application with the ABC Board.
Updates distance rules so retailers must stay at least 400 feet from schools or recreation centers, though some applicants who applied before December 17, 2024, are subject to a 300-foot rule under specific conditions.
Authorizes officials to immediately close and padlock unlicensed establishments without a prior hearing if an inspection shows they present an imminent danger to public safety starting April 1, 2025.
Allows summary closures of dangerous businesses to continue as long as the danger persists or is likely to happen again.

Holders and applicants for conditional medical cannabis licenses in Washington D.C.
Unlicensed establishments that sell, exchange, or deliver cannabis or Schedule I substances
The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA)
The Metropolitan Police Department

The official text provided does not state the specific date this law takes effect.
The description of enforcement actions against licensed establishments selling Schedule I substances was cut off in the source material before finishing the sentence on seizures and closures.
The bill mentions that existing one-year licenses converting to two years will now convert to three years at no additional cost, but does not detail other potential fees.

Plain language

Schedule I substance: A controlled drug listed in the District of Columbia Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
Unlicensed establishment: Any business selling cannabis or Schedule I substances without a license from ABCA, including those with pending applications if they sell these prohibited items.
Conditional license: A temporary permit for medical cannabis businesses that is now valid for up to three years instead of two.

Official record

Source attached

Medical Cannabis Licensing and Unlicensed Establishment Enforcement Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

Official activity