DEA Begins Issuing First Federal Registrations to Medical Marijuana Dispensaries, More Than 900 Across Seven States
The U.S. Department of Justice announced on October 30 that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is moving forward with the initial issuance of hundreds of federal registrations to qualifying state-licensed medical marijuana 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. 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 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. State licensure alone does not automatically grant federal registration; registered dispensaries will be subject to federal requirements including security, recordkeeping, and inventory controls. DEA will continue processing applications through a phased process and is also reviewing applications from medical marijuana manufacturers and distributors, which require additional review including facility inspections, production controls, and quota determinations.
The Attorney General's order applies to defined qualifying medical marijuana activities and does not authorize recreational marijuana. Marijuana not covered by the order remains subject to Schedule I controls, and the broader proposed rescheduling of marijuana is being considered through a separate administrative proceeding, the department said.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：路易斯安那州新奥尔良市一家大麻药房门店（Simply Cannabis）。Infrogmation 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons（画面为裁切版）。 / A cannabis dispensary storefront in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo by Infrogmation, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped).
