By DEA Issues First Federal Dispensary Registrations
The Trump administration has issued federal registrations to hundreds of medical marijuana dispensaries in states across the U.S. in line with the process of federally rescheduling cannabis, Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on Friday. The Department of Justice said the registrations “mark the first phase of implementing” marijuana rescheduling.
The initial registrations include more than 900 dispensaries in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. The first batch of registrations is being granted to businesses that submitted their applications during a 60-day period for expedited consideration. DEA separately announced on Friday that nearly 7,000 medical marijuana businesses have already applied for federal protections under rescheduling.
“The American people deserve access to the best medical treatments in the world,” the attorney general said on Friday.
“The Department of Justice will continue prosecuting illegal marijuana trafficking and related criminal activity in accordance with federal law,” he added.
Background on the Registration Process
DEA began accepting registrations from medical cannabis dispensaries with a new form in April, days after Attorney General Todd Blanche issued an order immediately moving marijuana products regulated by a state medical cannabis license from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to Schedule III, along with marijuana products that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The registrations announced on Friday are the first to be issued under that process. The Department of Justice described them as marking the first phase of implementing marijuana rescheduling.
Applications Continue Under Rescheduling
DEA said nearly 7,000 medical marijuana businesses have already applied for federal protections under rescheduling. The agency began accepting registrations from medical cannabis dispensaries with a new form in April.
The initial registrations cover more than 900 dispensaries across the seven states. Businesses that applied during the 60-day expedited window received the first batch of registrations.
