900+: DEA grants first federal registrations to medical marijuana dispensaries in 7 states; waiting applicants face Nov. 29 supply-chain date

The Justice Department said on Oct. 30 that the Drug Enforcement Administration has begun issuing federal registrations to state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries, starting with more than 900 dispensaries in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. The department called the registrations "the first phase" of carrying out Attorney General Todd Blanche's April order that placed certain medical marijuana activities under Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act.

The same day, DEA published guidance for businesses still waiting on their applications. It sets Nov. 29, 2026, as the date by which those "Timely Applicants" are expected to confirm the status of their trading partners and have compliant supply chains in place.

What the Justice Department announced

According to the department's Oct. 30 press release, 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. The release says the April 23 order, issued under 21 U.S.C. § 811(d), "established a federal regulatory framework for qualifying medical marijuana businesses while maintaining federal controls under the Controlled Substances Act."

Each dispensary in the first group had to meet applicable federal requirements, including successful completion of DEA's pre-registration investigation, before it received a registration, the department said.

"The American people deserve access to the best medical treatments in the world," Blanche said in the release. "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."

Who qualified first

DEA is starting with dispensaries that applied within the initial 60-day period set by the order and that meet federal requirements, according to the release. To qualify, applicants must operate under a state medical marijuana framework "consistent with federal law and the United States' international treaty obligations," the department said.

The release also makes clear that a state license is not enough on its own. "State licensure alone does not automatically grant federal registration," it says. Registered dispensaries will be subject to federal rules including "security, recordkeeping, inventory controls, and other safeguards governing the handling of controlled substances."

The department did not list the individual businesses that received registrations. Marijuana Moment, which reported the announcement on Oct. 30, noted that the first batch went to businesses that applied during the 60-day window for expedited consideration.

The applicant list behind the numbers

The registrations came on the same day DEA formally posted its first public list of "Timely Applicants," the medical marijuana businesses that applied within that window. Hemp Law Watch's count of the DEA file dated Oct. 30 found 6,983 entries: 4,197 dispensaries, 2,076 manufacturers and 710 distributors. Marijuana Moment reported the same total.

That file lists 965 dispensary applications from the seven states named in the first round of registrations, by Hemp Law Watch's count, with Florida accounting for 748 of them. DEA says the list "may change as Timely Applicants are granted DEA registrations, withdraw their applications for DEA registration, or are no longer considered Timely Applicants for any other reason," and that it will be updated daily. The list shows only the state, the type of business and a control number, not company names.

Illinois and Michigan were not among the seven states in the first round. The Oct. 30 file listed 59 Illinois dispensary applications and 25 Michigan dispensary applications, by Hemp Law Watch's count.

What applicants still waiting can do

DEA's guidance document, also dated Oct. 30, explains what businesses with pending applications may do in the meantime. It covers entities that submitted complete applications, including payment of the registration fee, between April 28 and June 26, 2026, within 60 days of the publication of the April 28 final rule.

Under the federal regulation cited in the guidance, 21 CFR 1301.13(k)(7), those Timely Applicants can keep dispensing, manufacturing or distributing Schedule III medical marijuana under their state medical marijuana licenses while their DEA applications are pending. That does not apply to applicants that withdrew, were denied by a final order, or lack the required state medical marijuana license.

The guidance sets out who they can do business with. Timely Applicants may trade with other Timely Applicants and with DEA registrants; for example, the document says, a DEA-registered dispensary "can continue receiving schedule III medical marijuana from a Timely Distributor Applicant." But Timely Applicants and registrants "may not lawfully engage in any schedule III medical marijuana activities" with businesses that did not apply in the window or have not applied at all, until those businesses become DEA registrants.

Dealing with someone outside those groups "could be potential grounds for denial of a Timely Applicant's application or revocation of a certificate of registration," the guidance says. At a minimum, DEA says, due diligence during the transition would generally include getting copies of partners' DEA application confirmations or registration certificates, verifying their document control numbers on DEA's website, confirming their state licenses are active, and keeping records of those checks.

The Nov. 29 date and existing inventory

DEA acknowledged that businesses may need time to check their trading partners and adjust supply chains. "Timely Applicants are expected to complete these activities and establish compliant supply chains no later than November 29, 2026," the guidance says.

The document also says Timely Dispenser and Distributor Applicants may keep possessing, dispensing and distributing inventory they acquired before the guidance was issued, including inventory obtained from businesses that do not qualify as Timely Applicants or registrants.

Testing labs

The guidance addresses a practical gap: some businesses may not have access to testing laboratories registered with DEA for Schedule III medical marijuana. DEA said it does not intend to penalize registrants and Timely Applicants for sending "de minimis quantities" to a lab that is not DEA-registered, as long as the lab is in the same state and detailed records are kept. DEA said that discretion applies only when using a DEA-registered lab would violate state law, for example when no lab anywhere is registered for this testing, or when state law bars out-of-state testing and no lab in the state is registered.

The document notes that it "does not have the force and effect of law" and is meant to clarify existing requirements.

Manufacturers and distributors come next

According to the Justice Department, DEA will keep processing dispensary applications and issuing registrations "through a phased registration process." It is also reviewing applications from medical marijuana manufacturers and distributors, which supply dispensaries; those need additional review, including facility inspections, production controls and quota determinations, the department said.

Earlier in October, DEA launched specialized registration forms for other types of state-licensed medical marijuana businesses, including manufacturers, distributors and analytical labs, Marijuana Moment reported.

Background and open questions

The April order applies only to defined medical marijuana activities. "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," the release says. "Marijuana not covered by the order remains subject to Schedule I controls."

A broader proposal to reschedule marijuana is moving through a separate administrative proceeding under the Controlled Substances Act, the department said. Marijuana Moment reported that a DEA hearing in that case recently concluded testimony.

The registration process has drawn criticism. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) told Marijuana Moment this month that DEA's handling of employees with past felony convictions at applicant businesses is "really problematic."

What happens next

More registrations are expected as DEA works through its phased review, and the daily-updated applicant list may shrink as applicants are granted registrations or drop off. For businesses still waiting, the next marker is Nov. 29, when DEA expects compliant supply chains to be in place.

Hemp Law Watch will track new registrations, including any for Illinois and Michigan businesses.