B26-0163 • 2025

Unlicensed Establishment Enforcement Clarification Temporary 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: 2025-06-20
Official status: Official Law
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact effective date depends on publication in the DC Register and a 30-day congressional review period, though metadata indicates an expiration of Jan 21, 2026.

Unlicensed Establishment Enforcement Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

This temporary law updates rules to allow officials in Washington, D.C., to close businesses selling illegal drugs or operating without a license.

What This Bill Does

Updates the definition of an unlicensed establishment to include places that sell Schedule I substances from a specific location in the District.
Allows summary closure and padlocking of any unlicensed business after April 1, 2025, even if it has a pending license application.
Permits immediate enforcement actions before April 1, 2025, against businesses with pending applications that sell Schedule I substances.
Extends the time officials can keep a place closed and padlocked as long as an imminent danger to public safety exists or is likely to return.
Gives ABCA and police power to close licensed medical cannabis establishments if they engage in specific unlawful activities.

Who It Names or Affects

Unlicensed businesses that sell, exchange, or deliver Schedule I substances from a location in the District.
Licensed medical cannabis establishments found selling illegal substances or presenting an imminent danger to public safety.
The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

Terms To Know

Schedule I substance: A controlled drug listed in section 204 of the District of Columbia Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
Unlicensed establishment: Any business selling cannabis or Schedule I substances that does not have a license from ABCA as a cultivation center, retailer, manufacturer, courier, testing lab, or internet retailer.
Summary closure: An immediate order to shut down and padlock a business without a prior hearing due to imminent danger.

Limits and Unknowns

This law expires automatically after 225 days from its effective date.
The specific list of Schedule I substances is defined in a separate act referenced by this bill.

Bill History

2025-06-20 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Law L26-0010, Effective from Jun 10, 2025 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 006764, Expires on Jan 21, 2026
2025-04-28 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Transmitted to Congress
2025-04-25 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Act A26-0047 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 004892
2025-04-22 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0047
2025-04-22 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Returned from Mayor
2025-04-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Apr 22, 2025
2025-04-01 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Legislative Meeting
2025-03-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0163 Published in the District of Columbia Register
2025-03-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Retained by the Council with comments from the Committee on Business and Economic Development
2025-03-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Legislative Meeting
2025-02-28 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
B26-0163 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Unlicensed Establishment Enforcement Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
ANACT
D.C. ACT 26-47
INTHE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
APRIL 22, 2025
Toamend,onatemporarybasis,theLegalizationofMarijuanaforMedicalTreatmentInitiativeof1999toamendthedefinitionofanunlicensedestablishmenttoincludeestablishmentsthatsellScheduleIsubstancesorproductsthatcontainScheduleIsubstances,toauthorizeenforcementactionstobetakenagainstallunlicensedestablishmentsbeginningonApril1,2025,regardlessofwhethertheunlicensedestablishmentshaveanapplicationpendingapplicationbeforetheAlcoholicBeverageandCannabisBoard,toauthorizecertainenforcementactionsbeforeApril1,2025,againstanunlicensedestablishmentthathasanapplicationbeforetheAlcoholicBeverageandCannabisBoardiftheunlicensedestablishmentsellsaScheduleIsubstanceoraproductthatcontainsaScheduleIsubstance,toauthorizesummaryclosuresandrelatedenforcementactionstocontinueforaslongastheimminentdangertothepublicpersistsandislikelytorecur,andtoallowtheAlcoholicBeverageandCannabisAdministrationandMetropolitan
PoliceDepartmenttotakerelatedenforcementactionsagainstalicensedmedicalcannabisestablishmentthatengagesincertainunlawfulactivity.
BEITENACTEDBYTHECOUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA,Thatthisactmaybecitedasthe“UnlicensedEstablishmentEnforcementClarificationTemporaryAmendmentActof2025”.
Sec.2.TheLegalizationofMarijuanaforMedicalTreatmentInitiativeof1999,effective
July27,2010(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)isaddedtoreadasfollow’“(20B-i)“Schedule|substance”meansacontrolledsubstancelistedinsection
204oftheDistrictofColumbiaUniformControlledSubstancesActof1981,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
“(j)Sells,exchangesaspartofacommercialtransaction,or
deliverscannabisand cannabisproducts;
“(ii)OperatesatordeliversfromaspecificlocationintheDistrict;
and
“(iii)IsnotlicensedbyABCA asacultivationcenter,retailer,
internetretailer,manufacturer,courier,ortestinglaboratory;or
“(B)Forpurposesofsection9(c-1),(g),(h),and(j),asoleproprietorship,
partnership,orotherbusinessentitythat:
“(i)Sells,exchangesaspartofacommercialtransaction,or
deliversScheduleIsubstancesor productsthatcontainScheduleIsubstances;and
“(i)Operatesatordeliversfromaspecificlocationinthe
District.”.
(b)Section7b(D.C.OfficialCode§7-1671.06b)isamendedbyaddinganewsubsection(a-l)toreadasfollows:
“(a-1)Notwithstandinganyotherprovisionofthissection,anunlicensedestablishmentmaybesummarilyclosedandpadlockedpursuanttosection9(g)afterApril1,2025.”.(©)Section9(D.C.OfficialCode§7-1671.08)isamendedasfollows:(1)A newsubsection(c-1)isaddedtoreadasfollows:““(c-1)Itshallbeaviolationofthisactforalicensedestablishmentoranunlicensedestablishment(regardlessofwhethertheunlicensedestablishmenthasanapplicationpending
beforetheABC Board)tosell,exchangeaspartofa commercialtransaction,ordeliverScheduleIsubstancesorproductsthatcontainScheduleIsubstances.”.(2)Subsection(b)isamendedbyredesignatingthesecondparagraph(1)as
paragraph(2).(3)Subsection(g)isamendedasfollows:(A)Paragraph(1)isamendedasfollows:
(i)Strikethephrase“thistitle”andinsertthephrase“thisact”initsplace, (ii)Strikethephrase“cannabisproducts”andinsertthephrase“cannabisproducts,ScheduleIsubstances,orproductsthatcontainScheduleIsubstances”inits
place. (B)A newparagraph(6)isaddedtoreadasfollows:“(6TheABCBoardmaycontinuethesummaryclosure,padlockingofthepremises,andseizureofcannabis,cannabisproducts,ScheduleIsubstances,andproductscontainingScheduleIsubstancesuntiltheimminentdangerthattriggeredthesummaryclosureisabated.Eveniftheimminentdangerthattriggeredthesummaryclosureisabated,theABC
Boardmaycontinuethesummaryclosure,orderofpadlocking,andseizureofcannabis,cannabis
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
products,ScheduleIsubstances,andproductscontainingScheduleJsubstances,iftheABC
Boarddetermines,initsreasonablejudgment,theimminentdangerislikelytorecur.”.
(4)A newsubsection(g-1)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(g-1)(1)TheABC Boardmaysummarilycloseandorderthepadlocking,byABCA or
MPD withoutapriorhearing,ofa licensedestablishment,andABCA orMPD mayseizeall
cannabis,cannabisproducts,ScheduleIsubstances,andproductscontainingSchedule1
substancesfoundatthepremises,if,afteraninspection,ABCA determinesthatthelicensed
establishmentpresentsan imminentdangertothehealthandsafetyofthepublicforthereasons
setforthinsubsection(g)(2)(C)through(G)ofthissection.
“(2)ABCA shallprovidethelicensedestablishment’sownerandtheproperty
ownerwithwrittennoticeofthesummaryclosureandtherighttorequestahearing.
“(3)Theownerofthelicensedestablishmentshallhave5businessdaysafter
serviceofthenoticeofsummaryclosuretorequestahearingwiththeABC Board,whichshall
holdahearingwithin5businessdaysofa timelyrequest.
“(4)TheABC Boardshallissueawrittendecisionwithin5businessdaysafterthe
hearing,orifnohearingisrequested,within10businessdaysaftertheserviceofthenotice.”.
“(5)TheABC Boardmaycontinuethesummaryclosure,padlockingofthe
premises,andseizureofcannabis,cannabisproducts,ScheduleIsubstances,andproducts
containingScheduleIsubstancesunti]theimminentdangerthattriggeredthesummaryclosureis
abated.Eveniftheimminentdangerthattriggeredthesummaryclosureisabated,theABC
Boardmaycontinuethesummaryclosure,orderofpadlocking,andseizureofcannabis,cannabis
products,ScheduleIsubstances,andproductscontainingScheduleI substances,iftheABC
Boarddetermines,initsreasonablejudgment,theimminentdangerislikelytorecur.”.
(5)Subsection(h)isamendedasfollows:
(A)Paragraph(1)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(1)ABCA ortheMetropolitanPoliceDepartmentmaypostsignageatthesiteof
theunlicensedestablishmentorlicensedestablishmentindicatingthatactivitythatviolatesthis
acthasbeenfoundtohaveoccurredattheestablishment.”
(B)Paragraph(2)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“unlicensed
establishment”and insertingthephrase“unlicensedestablishmentorlicensedestablishment”in
itsplace.
(6)Subsection(i)(1)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“()(1)AnABCA investigatormaytestcannabisandcannabisproductsfoundata
licensedestablishmentorunlicensedestablishmenttoquantifytheirTHC contentandmaytest
othersubstancesandproductsfoundata licensedestablishmentorunlicensedestablishmentfor
thepresenceandquantityofaScheduleIsubstance.”.
Sec.3.Fiscalimpactstatement.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
The Counciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementof theBudget Directoras thefiscalimpact
statementrequiredby section4a of theGeneralLegislativeProceduresAct of 1975,approved
October 16,2006 (120 Stat.2038; D.C. OfficialCode§ 1-301.47a).
Sec.4.Effectivedate.
(a)ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto),a30-dayperiodofcongressionalreview
asprovidedinsection602(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.813;D.C.OfficialCode§1-206.02(c)(1)),andpublicationintheDistrictofColumbiaRegister.(b)Thisactshallexpireafter225daysofitshavingtakeneffect.
airman’
Councilof theDistrictof Columbia

Districtof Columbia
APPROVEDAPRIL 22, 2025

COUNCILOF THEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004

[JITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
[x]ACTION FirstReading
(xqVoTEpate March4,2025
[x]VOICEvoTE ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[ROLLCALLVOTE-Resut
CouncMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec|CounciMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec|CouncMember[Aye[NayNV[AB[Rec
ChairmanMendelson]x Henderson|x Pinto
‘Alen x LewisGeorge|x White x
Bonds x MeDutie x
Felder x Nadeau x
Frumin x Parker x
X-IndicateVote AB~Absent NV-Prosent,NotVoting Rec-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
zeete0 aor ys‘SecretarytoeGouel Date
DocketNo,826-0163
[X]TEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
[XACTION FinalReading,CC
[xX]VOTEDATE ‘April,2025
[xqVoIcevote ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[ROLLCALLVOTE—Resut
CouncMemberAye[Nay|NV[AB[Rec|CouncMember[Aye[Nay|Nv[AB[RecCounciMember[Aye[Nay[Nv[AB[Rec
ChairmanMendelson]X Henderson| x Pino
‘Alen x LewisGeorge| x White
Bonds x MeDutie x
Felser x Nadeau x
Frumin x Parker x
X-IndlcateVote ‘AB~Absent NV-Prosent,NotVoting Rec-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD 4 - 2-27
SecrelarytoeCounc Date