Justice Department Announces Issuance of Federal Registrations for Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

The U.S. Department of Justice today announced 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 orderLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. 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. 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.

State licensure alone does not automatically grant federal registration. Registered dispensaries will be subject to applicable federal requirements, including security, recordkeeping, inventory controls, and other safeguards governing the handling of controlled substances.

DEA will continue processing dispensary applications and issuing registrations to qualifying dispensaries through a phased registration process while maintaining its regulatory and enforcement responsibilities under federal law. DEA is also reviewing registration applications from medical marijuana manufacturers and distributors, which supply medical marijuana to dispensaries. Those applications require additional review, including facility inspections, production controls, and quota determinations.

Under the Attorney General's order, qualifying manufacturers, distributors, and dispensaries, that applied within the initial 60-day period and whose applications remain pending may continue to engage in medical marijuana transactions with other qualified applicants and with newly registered entities as their applications remain pending, subject to the order's requirements. Information for applicants and newly registered entities can be found hereLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..

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.