Cap & Stem, a Sherman Avenue storefront specializing solely in psychedelic mushrooms, has become the second mushroom-only shop in Washington, D.C. to be shut down by authorities. The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA), alongside the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), executed a closure order on July 3, 2025, seizing large quantities of psilocybin products and over $19,000 in cash.
Bouquet Labs DC, LLC, the first D.C. medical cannabis cultivation applicant to be shut down for unlicensed operations, has agreed to a $10,000 fine and to sell its license following a May 2025 raid. Authorities discovered nearly 1,000 cannabis plants at its unauthorized grow site
- Please submit your questions for ABCA director Fred Moosally. Not all questions are guaranteed to be answered.
- Next ABC Board meeting July 16 at 10:30 A.M., agenda, watch.
Ceres Naturals, a licensed cannabis processor in Frederick, Maryland, has entered into a Consent Order with the Maryland Cannabis Administration after an unannounced inspection uncovered multiple regulatory violations. Issues included improper visitor logs, inadequate cannabis storage and disposal, unregistered and untrained staff, and non-compliant equipment sanitation. The company avoided a formal hearing by agreeing to corrective actions, highlighting the state’s strict oversight of cannabis operations.
- Researchers at the University of Maryland launched a groundbreaking clinical trial—the LiBBY Study—to test whether an investigational THC/CBD oral treatment can safely reduce agitation in late-stage dementia patients nearing end-of-life care.
Virginia’s newly formed Joint Commission to Oversee Transition to a Retail Cannabis Market held its inaugural meeting in Richmond on July 9, 2025, marking a pivotal step toward legalizing adult‑use cannabis retail in the state. Chaired by Del. Paul Krizek (D‑Fairfax), the commission aims to build on previously vetoed legislation—such as HB 2485/SB 970—by drafting a robust framework for cannabis regulation rooted in public health, restorative justice, economic equity, and community reinvestment. The panel, operating under House Joint Resolution 497 through July 1, 2028, will gather public input and shape proposals for a possible 2026 legalization push, hoping a shift in the governor’s office will bring adult‑use retail closer to fruition.
- Virginia regulators unveiled a new online portal for medical cannabis patients.
ICYMI: Cookies lands in D.C. and Gov. Moore halts Maryland cannabis hub
East Coast Roundup
Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman stated that recreational cannabis legalization won’t be included in the current budget, dampening momentum despite bipartisan support and renewed efforts by legislators.
A surge in operator closures in Massachusetts has led to 23 cannabis businesses surrendering or letting licenses lapse by mid‑May—double the number of retail shutdowns in all of 2024—due to economic pressures and rising competition…