The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is opening a new chapter in federal cannabis policy, announcing that it will begin accepting applications this week for medical marijuana businesses seeking protections under the Trump administration’s rescheduling initiative.
The agency said its “Medical Marijuana Dispensary Registration Portal” will go live Wednesday at 9 a.m. ET, giving state-licensed operators their first opportunity to formally enter a federally recognized system. The move follows a major policy shift led by the Department of Justice (DOJ), which last week confirmed that marijuana is being moved from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act.
Under an order signed by Acting Attorney General Blanche, medical marijuana products regulated at the state level—and those approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—will immediately qualify for Schedule III status. Businesses seeking those benefits must submit detailed applications outlining their storage, inventory, dispensing practices and security infrastructure, including vaults, alarm systems and personnel protocols.
Applicants will also be required to disclose supplier relationships, licensing credentials and criminal or disciplinary histories. The DEA is asking companies to identify employees with access to cannabis products and provide personal background information. An annual, nonrefundable application fee of $794 will apply.
While the initial phase applies only to medical marijuana, the process hints at broader changes ahead. The DOJ has scheduled an expedited administrative hearing beginning June 29 to consider expanding Schedule III classification to cannabis more broadly.
The rescheduling framework also introduces an unusual federal purchasing mechanism. To comply with international treaty obligations, the government will technically purchase marijuana crops from registered manufacturers and sell them back at cost, plus administrative fees, while maintaining oversight of storage facilities.
Meanwhile, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Treasury Department say updated tax guidance is forthcoming—potentially easing longstanding financial burdens on cannabis businesses.
President Donald Trump has framed the policy as both politically popular and medically necessary, citing patient experiences and calling on Congress to further protect hemp-derived CBD products.
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