The United States Department of Justice announced this week that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is moving forward with issuing hundreds of federal registrations to qualifying state-licensed medical cannabis dispensaries “under the Attorney General’s order implementing Schedule III controls for certain medical marijuana activities.”
“The registrations mark the first phase of implementing the Attorney General’s April 23, order under 21 U.S.C. § 811(d), which established a federal regulatory framework for qualifying medical marijuana businesses while maintaining federal controls under the Controlled Substances Act.” the U.S. government stated in a news release.
“These initial registrations include more than 900 dispensaries across Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Each dispensary was required to satisfy applicable federal requirements, including successful completion of DEA’s pre-registration investigation, before receiving federal registration.” the news release continued.
“The American people deserve access to the best medical treatments in the world,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The regulated distribution of medical marijuana by the applicants that have been granted registration by the Drug Enforcement Administration will help ensure broader access to chronic pain treatment and the safety of the American people. The Department of Justice will continue prosecuting illegal marijuana trafficking and related criminal activity in accordance with federal law.”
“DEA is beginning with dispensaries that submitted applications within the initial 60-day period established by the order and meet applicable federal requirements. To qualify, applicants must operate under a state medical marijuana regulatory framework consistent with federal law and the United States’ international treaty obligations. Each dispensary must also successfully complete DEA’s established pre-registration investigation before receiving federal registration.” the U.S. government wrote.
According to a recent analysis by Marijuana Moment of DEA application data, nearly 7,000 medical cannabis businesses “have applied in a timely fashion for federal protections that come with the Trump administration’s move to partially reschedule cannabis.”
“The announcement represents a major milestone in implementing the Attorney General’s order establishing a federal regulatory pathway for qualifying state medical cannabis activities under Schedule III.” wrote Americans for Safe Access in a news release in response to the DEA announcement. ASA is a leading national medical cannabis advocacy organization.
“For the first time, the federal government is recognizing and registering the medical cannabis dispensaries that patients fought to establish. This is a tremendous victory for patient access and an opportunity to build on 30 years of progress.” stated Steph Sherer, Founder and Executive Director of Americans for Safe Access.
“Thirty years ago, patients turned to the states because Washington refused to recognize their medicine. Today, Washington is recognizing the very programs those patients built. As we approach the 30th anniversary of California’s Proposition 215, it is hard to imagine a more powerful demonstration of how far patient advocacy has brought us.” Sherer added.
A state-licensed medical cannabis company does not automatically qualify for federal registration. State-legal medical cannabis dispensaries will still need to meet applicable federal requirements, which include “security, recordkeeping, inventory controls, and other safeguards governing the handling of controlled substances.”
“The Attorney General’s order applies to defined qualifying medical marijuana activities and does not authorize recreational marijuana or other marijuana activities outside its scope. Marijuana not covered by the order remains subject to Schedule I controls. The broader proposed rescheduling of marijuana is being considered through a separate administrative proceeding under the Controlled Substances Act.” the government’s news release concluded.
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