Vol. 1, Ed. 79 — Sat Oct 31: DEA issues first marijuana dispensary registrations

DEA grants first federal registrations to 900-plus medical marijuana dispensaries and sets a Nov. 29 supply-chain deadline; a House bill would add a 50% tariff on China-origin cannabinoid imports. For general information only — not legal advice.

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This is the New Realm Compliance Brief, Volume One, Edition Seventy-Nine, for Saturday, October Thirty-First.

Our top story. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Friday that the Drug Enforcement Administration has granted federal registrations to more than nine hundred state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. The Justice Department called it the first phase of implementing the move of state-licensed medical marijuana to Schedule Three. A list published the same day shows nearly seven thousand businesses have applied. The Associated Press reported that registration could open ordinary federal tax deductions long unavailable to the industry.

Also from the D E A: a new guidance document gives registrants and timely applicants until November twenty-ninth to source cannabis only from other registered or timely-applicant companies, with verified document control numbers and due-diligence records. The agency said trading with non-qualifying entities could be grounds for denial or revocation.

In Minnesota, the D E A sent an order to show cause to a Minneapolis dispensary, saying the state's combined medical and adult-use license falls outside the federal definition of a state medical license. Minnesota's Office of Cannabis Management said the order does not change state law and medical cannabis remains available.

In Congress, Representative Val Hoyle of Oregon filed a bill that would put an additional fifty percent tariff on China-origin cannabinoid imports and require federal testing of imported cannabinoid products. And Politico reported that lobbyists for three major alcohol companies urged state attorneys general to back the scheduled federal hemp ban, while other industry groups asked Congress to regulate hemp drinks instead.

On the radar: Massachusetts votes Tuesday on Question Eight, which would repeal adult-use retail marijuana. The federal synthetic cannabinoid exclusion takes effect November twelfth, and the broader hemp T H C limit on December eleventh.

Full details and source links are in today's email. This update is for general information only — it is not legal advice.