WASHINGTON — Just this week – the D.C. Council unanimously passed a law that could change the way cannabis shops operate here in the district.
Recreational marijuana has been legal in D.C. since 2014, but buying it is tricky.
Although it’s legal to use in the nation’s capital – Congress prohibited the sale and regulation of recreational marijuana.
“It does exist as a gray area because the gray area is not federally legal or illegal. Just like D.C. isn’t really a state but a space,” says Darel Dawson, owner of Peace in the Air Dispensary.
One common loophole is “gifting” a THC product. This is how it works, cannabis shops sell other products, like artwork or a piece of clothing, and “gift” marijuana instead.
Just this week the D.C. council unanimously passed emergency legislation that could penalize unlicensed gifting shops that have not applied to the city’s medical marijuana program. After receiving a warning from the Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Administration – shops could receive fines or get shut down.
In a legislative meeting this week, Charles Allen, A D.C. councilmember explained, “enforcement is a crucial piece to ensuring the licensing that we’ve created for unlicensed establishments to come into compliance.”
Council members say many of these shops operate without health or safety oversight – and this legislation gives these shops a legal way to enter the market. Although, some cannabis shop owners are concerned if the move could unfairly target and penalize businesses that are uninformed about the changes.
“We don’t want people who are operating as employers and servants of the public to be prematurely closed or inhibited from doing what they have been doing at this point without issue,” Darel Dawson owner of Peace in the Air Dispensary says.
The law can go into effect as early as January 31st and the D.C. council hopes to eventually pass permanent legislation.
H/T: www.wusa9.com
