Anti-marijuana organizations are formally narcing on several locally licensed cannabis businesses in Washington, D.C.—sending a letter to President Donald Trump, the U.S. attorney general and a federal prosecutor that identifies dispensaries they allege are too close to schools despite approval from District of Columbia officials.
Smart Approaches to Marijuana’s (SAM) Kevin Sabet President and head of the D.C.-based organization “1000 Feet”, recently wrote a letter to DOJ/White House, saying “we support prioritizing the public safety in District of Columbia and reducing the drug usage.”
It comes at a time when the President is considering a proposal that would reschedule marijuana on a federal level, he announced last week. SAM, one of the loudest opponents to the MAGA reforms in the MAGA community, is also divided on the issue.
As Trump moves to federalize D.C. police enforcement, putting the DOJ and head of Drug Enforcement Administration in positions to undermine local police control.
The report states that, during the last two decades, the DC government “has licensed marijuana retail outlets to operate close to elementary schools and child care centers, against the strong objections of educators and parents, and in clear violation of Federal Drug-Free School Zones Act.”
While the groups were pleased to have former interim U.S. Assistant Ed Martin, in March of this year, threaten a licensed local medical marijuana dispensary criminally prosecuted for violating federal law “one of one of worst offenders,” “we’ve seen no progress” since then.
Martin has been appointed by Trump as the U.S. Pardon Attorney.
In the letter sent to the DC government on Friday, SAM and 1,000 Feet stated that they hoped the initiative launched this week would provide an opportunity for them to further protect children in the District by enforcing swift actions to close all marijuana shops near schools. They also urged the DC government to treat any additional licensing granted to retailers in locations violating the Federal Drug-Free School Zones Act as a criminal conspiracies.
To “assist you in evaluating this situation,” these organizations have provided four D.C. marijuana dispensaries whose names and locations they believe violate federal zoning regulations for Schedule I drugs such as marijuana.
We hope that the Administration will make it a priority to enforce laws against marijuana in schools, as part of their public safety initiative. If, however, this broader initiative fails to protect DC’s kids, then it is a failure. “We respectfully request that your team enforces the Federal Drug-Free School Zones Act in order to stop this nightmare and safeguard the children.”
For what it’s worth, under D.C.’s own cannabis rules, dispensaries can’t operate within 300 feet of schools, though commercially zoned areas—where schools may be located—are exempt.
In a March 2024 letter, the District’s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) argued federal law does not interfere with its medical marijuana program, which the agency said had “been subject to congressional review, and has not been disapproved or repealed.”
In March, meanwhile, the White House called the District’s move to decriminalize marijuana an example of a “failed” policy that “opened the door to disorder.”
In a fact sheet about an executive order that Trump signed—which is broadly aimed at beautifying the District and making it more safe—the White House listed several local policies in the nation’s capital that it takes issue with, including cannabis reform. This is despite President Trump having previously expressed his support for states’ rights in marijuana laws.
“D.C.’s failed policies opened the door to disorder—and criminals noticed,” it says, citing “marijuana decriminalization,” as well as the District’s decision to end pre-trial detentions and enforcement practices around rioters, as examples of such policies.
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A voter-approved initiative has made it legal for D.C. residents to possess and cultivate recreational cannabis, but commercial marijuana sales remain illegal.
A congressional rider, which has been renewed each year since then, prevents the District from using its own funds to create a system for regulated cannabis sales. As a result, city officials are expanding the medical marijuana program in order to find a solution.
House members advanced last month a bill to maintain a controversial clause that prevents D.C. from setting up a marijuana commercial market.
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, (D-DC), criticized the appropriators who put forward a bill which restricts the autonomy of the District in many ways. This includes the riders to “prohibit use of funds for commercializing recreational marijuana.”
Norton said in May that she would again again push her colleagues to join her in an effort to remove the cannabis language.
Trump’s budget request that he released in June also contained the Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) rider preventing marijuana sales in D.C. Former President Joe Biden also repeatedly requested the continuation of the D.C. cannabis rider in budget proposals during his time in office.
Local officials in D.C. have expanded their city’s medical marijuana program to work around the fact that the District has been unable to utilize its funds locally to create a system for regulated cannabis sales.
Philip Steffan provided the photo.
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