JUSTICE DEPARTMENT BEGINS FEDERAL REGISTRATION OF MORE THAN 900 MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Justice announced October 30, 2026, that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is moving forward with federal registrations for more than 900 state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries across seven states. The registrations represent the first phase of a federal regulatory framework allowing qualifying medical marijuana businesses to operate under Schedule III controls of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

The initial registrations cover dispensaries in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. The action follows an April 23 order establishing federal oversight of qualifying medical marijuana activities under Title 21, United States Code, Section 811(d). Each participating dispensary must satisfy federal eligibility requirements and successfully complete a DEA pre-registration investigation before receiving authorization.

Attorney General Todd Blanche said the initiative is intended to expand access to regulated medical marijuana treatments, including those used for chronic pain. The Justice Department also confirmed that federal authorities will continue pursuing illegal marijuana trafficking and related criminal offenses. The registrations do not authorize recreational marijuana sales or activities outside the established medical framework.

Under the new requirements, state licensure alone does not provide federal authorization. Registered dispensaries must comply with federal security standards, inventory controls, recordkeeping obligations, and other safeguards governing controlled substances. DEA is prioritizing applications submitted during the initial 60-day registration period, which ran from April 28 through June 26, 2026.

Businesses that submitted complete applications during that period may continue qualifying medical marijuana operations while their registrations remain pending, provided they retain the required state licenses and satisfy applicable conditions. DEA guidance also permits transactions between eligible pending applicants and federally registered businesses. DEA expects applicants to verify their trading partners’ authorization status and establish compliant supply chains no later than November 29, 2026.

The agency is separately reviewing applications from medical marijuana manufacturers and distributors, which face additional requirements involving facility inspections, production controls, and federal manufacturing quotas. These measures are intended to regulate the movement of medical marijuana through authorized production, distribution, and dispensing channels while maintaining oversight of controlled substances.

The April 2026 federal rule also placed qualifying Food and Drug Administration-approved marijuana products and certain state-licensed medical marijuana activities under Schedule III controls. Marijuana outside the rule’s defined scope remains subject to Schedule I restrictions. The broader proposal to reschedule marijuana nationally is being addressed through a separate administrative proceeding, originally initiated in May 2024.

U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Schedules of Controlled Substances: Rescheduling of Food and Drug Administration Approved Products Containing Marijuana From Schedule I to Schedule III; Corresponding Change to Permit Requirements, Final Rule, Attorney General Order No. 6754-2026, April 2026. (Free Download)

U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Schedules of Controlled Substances: Rescheduling of Marijuana, Notice of Hearing on Proposed Rulemaking, Attorney General Order No. 6753-2026, Docket No. DEA-1362, April 2026. (Free Download)

U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Schedules of Controlled Substances: Rescheduling of Marijuana, Withdrawal of Notice of Hearing, Attorney General Order No. 6752-2026, Docket No. DEA-1362, April 2026. (Free Download)

U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), DEA Medical Marijuana Timely Applicant Information: Activities of Entities Holding State Medical Marijuana Licenses Who Applied for DEA Registration under the April 28, 2026 Final Rule, 21 CFR 1301.13(k)(7), October 30, 2026. (Free Download)

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