With the official opening of Anacostia Organics on Thursday, communities east of the river finally have a medical marijuana dispensary. Mayor Muriel Bowser, D.C. Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, and Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White were all there for the ribbon cutting, celebrating the opening as a victory for Wards 7 and 8, which have lacked nearby access to medical cannabis (and the business the industry creates).

“We can laugh and giggle about marijuana, right? But it’s big business, and big business means people can be employed,” Mayor Bowser said in her speech at the ribbon cutting. “When you see businesses invest in your corridor, it’s sending a signal to other businesses that this is a place where you can thrive.”

The venture is headed by Linda Greene, a longtime figure in D.C. business and politics. Greene was former Mayor Marion Barry’s chief of staff when he was Ward 8 councilmember, and reportedly dated former mayor and current Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray. Court records indicate that Greene has had some financial and tax troubles, according to the Washington City Paper. A lawsuit filed against her last September was dismissed for no immediately apparent reason. Greene told the City Paper that these financial problems “[don’t] exist. The information is incorrect,” and declined to elaborate.

In her remarks on Thursday, Greene said she’s worked hard to be able to open the dispensary in her neighborhood, and she thanked the mayor and the Council for standing behind her in her endeavor. She also said her store’s workforce is 100 percent made up of D.C. residents, all but a couple of them from Wards 7 and 8 specifically.

Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton took the opportunity to blast Republicans on Capitol Hill who have tried to stop the District from legalizing medical and recreational cannabis. “There were efforts made in the Congress of the United States to keep medical marijuana from coming to the District,” she said. “But…Linda Greene refused to give up.”

Bowser said that despite any federal threats, she is committed to keeping weed legal in the District. “I am committed to upholding the will of DC voters to make sure they can have not only medical cannabis, but adults can take advantage of recreational cannabis as well,” she said. 

The mayor has said that she will introduce a bill at the D.C. Council that would allow the District to tax and regulate marijuana sales. Since 2014, Congress has prevented D.C. from taxing and regulating weed—but the new Democratic House could change things for the city this year.