New Task Force to Increase Scrutiny
of D.C.’s Cannabis Gray Market
Introduction
On Tuesday, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced
the formation of a new task force to address unlicensed cannabis sales in D.C.,
which she described as “a serious public safety issue.”
The mayor's announcement comes after an
increase in public complaints about illegal cannabis activities that have
resulted in increased police enforcement against such businesses.
It also comes amid growing concerns that
Congress's prohibition on legal cannabis sales may lead to increased crime
associated with black markets for the drug concerns, which have been echoed by
local law enforcement officials and members of Congress themselves.
A new task force consisting
of representatives from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)
As part of an effort to increase scrutiny
and regulation of D.C.'s cannabis gray market, Mayor Muriel Bowser has
announced the formation of a new task force consisting of representatives from
the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)
the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation
Administration (ABRA), and other District agencies. The task force will track
unlicensed cannabis sales to stop them if necessary.
The mayor has instructed her
agencies.
The mayor has instructed her agencies to devise
a plan to regulate the gray market for cannabis, which exists in D.C. due to
Congress's prohibition of legal sales of cannabis. In the meantime, she wants
police to increase enforcement against unlicensed sales.
In the meantime, marijuana will remain
illegal in D.C., so if you want to buy some weed, your best bet is to go
through someone who knows their way around the gray market (you can probably
find one on Craigslist).
Reporters at this
announcement asked.
“We’ve been working with MPD for a number of
years to shut down these businesses,” Bowser said Thursday.
“So, I think that it’s important to
understand that we have an enforcement apparatus in place and that this task
force is going to enhance that. We have already closed down some businesses where
we found evidence of illegal activity.”
In response to questions from reporters
about whether she had changed her position since her initial comments regarding
the gray market on July 31, when she said "we're not going to allow"
such businesses, Bowser repeatedly stressed how long the city has been working
with MPD on the issue.
Chief of Police Peter Newsham said that the
department already investigates complaints about illegal cannabis sales and
that it had already closed down some businesses where they found “evidence of
illegal activity,” but that they would also be “increasing our enforcement
efforts” now as well.
It is unclear whether the
mayor authorized more aggressive enforcement
You may have heard that the District of
Columbia is cracking down on unlicensed cannabis sales. This might seem strange
since the mayor has been very clear in her support of legalizing recreational
marijuana.
But it is worth noting that there was no
public statement from Mayor Muriel Bowser before today's announcement from
police headquarters about creating this task force to increase scrutiny of
D.C.'s cannabis gray market, and it's unclear whether she authorized more
aggressive enforcement against unlicensed sales before this announcement today.
Conclusion
We'll have to patiently chill and see
whether this new task force makes any difference in D.C.'s cannabis industry.
It's unclear whether the mayor authorized more aggressive enforcement against
unlicensed sales before today's announcement. Still, it seems unlikely that she
would announce a plan without being willing to let MPD pursue it.
The most important takeaway is that the
District will continue to struggle with an uncertain legal status for cannabis.
At the same time, Congress refuses to budge on legalization legislation at the
federal level. This could be bad news if you're looking forward to using
marijuana legally within city limits anytime soon.
