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B26-0162 • 2025

Unlicensed Establishment Enforcement Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Unlicensed Establishment Enforcement Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Healthcare
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
at the request of the Mayor
Last action
2025-03-28
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text lists specific subsections (g)(2)(C) through (G) as the reasons a licensed establishment may be closed, but does not list what those specific activities are in this excerpt.

Unlicensed Establishment Enforcement Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This emergency law updates rules to allow officials to close unlicensed businesses selling Schedule I substances and licensed medical cannabis shops that pose an immediate danger, with enforcement powers expanding on April 1, 2025.

What This Bill Does

  • Updates the definition of 'unlicensed establishment' to include any business at a specific location in D.C. that sells or delivers Schedule I substances for purposes related to certain violations.
  • Makes it illegal for both licensed and unlicensed establishments, even those with pending license applications, to sell or deliver Schedule I substances starting April 1, 2025.
  • Allows officials to immediately close and padlock an unlicensed establishment selling Schedule I substances before April 1, 2025 if it has a pending application.
  • Permits summary closure of all unlicensed establishments after April 1, 2025, regardless of whether they have a pending license application.
  • Authorizes the immediate closure and padlocking of licensed medical cannabis shops without a prior hearing if an inspection finds they pose an imminent danger to public health or safety due to specific unlawful activities.
  • Allows officials to keep a business closed as long as the dangerous condition exists, or even after it is fixed if officials believe the danger will likely happen again.
  • Authorizes investigators to test products at both licensed and unlicensed locations for THC content and the presence of Schedule I substances.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Unlicensed businesses selling cannabis or Schedule I substances in Washington, D.C., including those with pending license applications.
  • Licensed medical cannabis establishments found engaging in specific unlawful activities that create an imminent danger to public health and safety.
  • The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) and the Metropolitan Police Department.

Terms To Know

Schedule I substance
A controlled drug listed in D.C. law under section 204 of the District of Columbia Uniform Controlled Substances Act or rules implementing that section.
Summary closure
An immediate shutdown and padlocking of a business by officials without holding a hearing first, used when there is an urgent danger to public health or safety.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This law expires on June 19, 2025, as it was enacted as an emergency measure effective for no longer than 90 days.
  • The text does not specify the exact penalties or fines for individuals who sell these substances outside of business locations.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-28 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0038 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 003347, Expires on Jun 19, 2025

  2. 2025-03-24 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  3. 2025-03-21 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0038, Expires on Jun 19, 2025

  4. 2025-03-11 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Mar 25, 2025

  5. 2025-03-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council with comments from the Committee on Business and Economic Development

  6. 2025-03-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  7. 2025-02-28 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0162 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Unlicensed Establishment Enforcement Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
ANACT

ACT 26-38
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
MARCH 21, 2025
Toamend,onanemergencybasis,theLegalizationofMarijuanaforMedicalTreatmentInitiativeof 1999 toamend thedefinitionof an unlicensedestablishmentto include
establishmentsthatsellScheduleIsubstancesorproductsthatcontainScheduleIsubstances,toauthorizeenforcementactionstobetakenagainstallunlicensedestablishmentsbeginningonApril1,2025,regardlessofwhethertheunlicensedestablishmentshaveanapplicationpendingbeforetheAlcoholicBeverageandControlBoard,toauthorizecertainenforcementactionsbeforeApril1,2025,againstanunlicensedestablishmentthathasanapplicationpendingbeforetheAlcoholicBeverageandControlBoardiftheunlicensedestablishmentsellsaScheduleIsubstanceoraproductthatcontainsaScheduleIsubstance,toauthorizesummaryclosuresandrelatedenforcementactionstocontinueforaslongastheimminentdangertothepublicpersistsand islikelyto recur,and toallow theAlcoholicBeverage and Cannabis Administration
andMetropolitanPoliceDepartmenttotakerelatedenforcementactionsagainstalicensedmedicalcannabisestablishmentthatengagesincertainunlawfulactivity.
BEITENACTEDBYTHECOUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA,Thatthis,actmaybecitedasthe“UnlicensedEstablishmentEnforcementClarificationEmergencyAmendment Act of 2025”.
Sec.2.TheLegalizationofMarijuanaforMedicalTreatmentInitiativeof1999,effectiveJuly27,2010(D.C.Law18-210;D.C.OfficialCode§7-1671.01efseq.),isamendedasfollows:(a)Section2(D.C.OfficialCode§7-1671.01)isamendedasfollows:(1)A newparagraph(20B-i)isaddedtoreadasfollows:“Q0B-i)“ScheduleIsubstance”meansacontrolledsubstancelistedinsection204oftheDistrictofColumbiaUniformControlledSubstancesActof1981,effectiveAugust5,1981(D.C.Law4-29;D.C.OfficialCode§48-902.04),orrulesimplementingthatsection.”.(2)Paragraph(22)isamendedtoreadasfollows:“(22)“Unlicensedestablishment”means:“(A)A soleproprietorship,partnership,orotherbusinessentitythat:
ENROLLED ORIGINAL,
“(i)Sells,exchangesaspartofa commercialtransaction,or
deliverscannabisand cannabisproducts;
“(ii)Operatesator deliversfrom a specificlocationintheDistrict;
and
“Gii)IsnotlicensedbyABCA asacultivationcenter,retailer,
internetretailer,manufacturer,courier,ortestinglaboratory;or
“(B)Forpurposesofsection9(c-1),(g),(h),and(i),asoleproprietorship,
partnership,orotherbusinessentitythat:
“(i)Sells,exchangesaspartofa commercialtransaction,or
deliversScheduleIsubstancesor productsthatcontainScheduleI substances;and
“(ii)Operatesatordeliversfroma specificlocationinthe
District.”.
(b)Section7b(D.C.OfficialCode§7-1671.06b)isamendedbyaddinganewsubsection
(a1)toreadasfollows:
“(a-1)Notwithstandingany otherprovisionof thissection,an unlicensedestablishment
maybesummarilyclosedandpadlockedpursuanttosection9(g)afterApril1,2025.”,
(c)Section9(D.C.OfficialCode§7-1671.08)isamendedasfollows:
(1)A newsubsection(c-1)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(c-1)Itshallbe a violationof this actfora licensedestablishmentoran unlicensed
establishment(regardlessofwhethertheunlicensedestablishmenthasanapplicationpending
beforetheABC Board) tosell,exchange aspartofa commercial transaction,ordeliverSchedule
IsubstancesorproductsthatcontainScheduleIsubstances.”.
(2)Subsection(b)isamendedbyredesignatingthesecondparagraph(1)as
paragraph(2).
(3)Subsection(g)isamendedasfollows:(A)Paragraph(1)isamendedasfollows:(@Strikethephrase“thistitle”andinsertthephrase“thisact”initsplace.
(ii)Strikethephrase“cannabisproducts”andinsertthephrase“cannabisproducts,ScheduleIsubstances,orproductsthatcontainScheduleI substances”initsplace. (B)A newparagraph(6)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(6)TheABC Boardmaycontinuethesummaryclosure,padlockingofthepremises,andseizureofcannabis,cannabisproducts,ScheduleIsubstances,andproductscontainingScheduleIsubstancesuntiltheimminentdangerthattriggeredthesummaryclosureisabated.Eveniftheimminentdangerthattriggeredthesummaryclosureisabated,theABCBoardmaycontinuethesummaryclosure,orderofpadlocking,andseizureofcannabis,cannabisproducts,ScheduleIsubstances,andproductscontainingScheduleIsubstances,iftheABCBoarddetermines,initsreasonablejudgment,theimminentdangerislikelytorecur.”.
i)

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
(4)A new subsection(g-1)isadded toreadas follows:
*(g-1)(1)TheABC Boardmaysummarilycloseandorderthepadlocking,byABCA or
MPD withoutaprior hearing,ofa licensedestablishment,and ABCA or MPD may seizeall
cannabis,cannabisproducts,ScheduleI substances,and productscontainingSchedule1
substancesfound atthepremises,if,afteran inspection,ABCA determinesthatthelicensed
establishmentpresentsan imminent dangertothehealthand safetyof the publicforthereasons
setforthinsubsection(g)(2)(C)through(G) of thissection.
“(2)ABCA shallprovidethelicensedestablishment'sowner and theproperty
ownerwithwrittennoticeofthesummaryclosureandtherighttorequestahearing.
“(3)The owner of thelicensedestablishmentshallhave 5 businessdays after
serviceofthenoticeofsummaryclosuretorequestahearingwiththeABCBoard,whichshallholdahearingwithin5businessdaysofatimelyrequest.
“(4)The ABC Board shallissuea writtendecisionwithin5 businessdays afterthe
hearing,or ifno hearingisrequested,within10 businessdays aftertheserviceof thenotice.”.
“(5)The ABC Board may continuethesummary closure,padlockingof the
premises,and seizureof cannabis,cannabisproducts,ScheduleI substances,and products
containingScheduleIsubstancesuntiltheimminentdangerthattriggeredthesummaryclosureis
abated,Even iftheimminent dangerthattriggeredthesummary closureisabated,theABC
Board may continuethesummary closure,orderof padlocking,and seizureof cannabis,cannabis
products,ScheduleIsubstances,and productscontainingScheduleIsubstances,if theABC
Board determines,initsreasonablejudgment,theimminent danger islikelytorecur.”.
(5)Subsection(h)isamended as follows:
(A)Paragraph(1)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(h)(1)ABCA ortheMetropolitanPoliceDepartmentmaypostsignageatthesiteofthe
unlicensedestablishmentorlicensedestablishmentindicatingthatactivitythatviolatesthisact
hasbeenfoundtohaveoccurredattheestablishment.”.
(B)Paragraph(2)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“unlicensed
establishment”and insertingthephrase“unlicensedestablishmentorlicensedestablishment”in
itsplace.
(6)Subsection(i)(1)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(i)(1)An ABCA investigatormay testcannabisand cannabisproductsfound ata
licensedestablishmentor unlicensedestablishmenttoquantifytheirTHC contentand may test
othersubstancesand productsfound ata licensedestablishmentorunlicensedestablishmentfor
thepresenceandquantityofa ScheduleIsubstance.”,
See4,Fiscalimpactstatement.‘TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approvedOctober16,2006(120Stat.2038;D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a).

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
Sec.5.Effectivedate.ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto),andshallremainineffectfornolongerthan
90days,asprovidedforemergencyactsoftheCounciloftheDistrictofColumbiainsection
412(a)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.788:D.C.OfficialCode§1-204.12(a)).

Councilof theDistrictof Columbia

APPROVEDMARCH 21, 2025

[ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
[x]AcTION
[x1VOTEDATE
[xVoicevoTE
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[]ROLLCALLVOTE-Result
COUNCILOF THEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004
FinalReading
March4,2025
‘Approved

oa rytothe= 3
[CouncitMember[Aye[Nay|NV| AB[Rec[CouncilMember[Aye|Nay[NV[AB CouncilMember Nay|Nv[AB[Reo
ChairmanMendetson)X Henderson x Pinto
Allen x LewisGeorge| x R.White
Bonds x McDuffie x
Felder x Nadeau x
Frumin x Patker x
X-IndicateVote ‘AB~Absent NV--Present,NotVoting Rec-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD