Justice Department Announces Issuance of Federal Registrations for Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
The U.S. Department of Justice announced that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has begun issuing 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 initial phase includes more than 900 dispensaries across Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Registered dispensaries must satisfy applicable federal requirements, including DEA pre-registration investigations, security measures, recordkeeping, and inventory controls. The DOJ stated that DEA will continue processing dispensary applications and reviewing applications from medical marijuana manufacturers and distributors through a phased registration process.