By John A. Gilbert, Jr. & Larry K. Houck – Last week we summarized several new Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) actions related to marijuana. We now take a more in depth review of one of those actions related to DEA registration to cultivate marijuana for research. For …
By John A. Gilbert, Jr. & Larry K. Houck – In separate notices published today, the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) issued three major decisions on marijuana and industrial hemp. The most significant, in a move running counter to most state action, includes DEA rejecting a petition …
By John A. Gilbert, Jr. & Larry K. Houck – The Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) recently released a report examining issues related to state marijuana legislation and federal monitoring of such actions. GAO, State Marijuana Legalization: DOJ Should Document Its Approach to Monitoring the Effects of …
By Larry K. Houck – Several recent developments relating to cannabidiol and marijuana occurred over the past several weeks. We summarize them below: One Step Forward for Cannabidiol Research The Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) announced that it has eased some of the regulatory requirements for FDA-approved clinical trials …
By John A. Gilbert, Jr. & Larry K. Houck – Yes, with passage of the State Marihuana (sic) and Regulatory Tolerance (“SMART”) Enforcement Act. The bill, H.R. 3746, introduced by Representative Suzan DelBene (D-WA), would authorize the Attorney General to waive the marijuana provisions of the …
By Larry K. Houck – A bipartisan group of senators representing Oregon, Colorado and Washington, states that have legalized nonmedical use of marijuana, introduced legislation that would protect financial institutions from adverse action by federal banking regulators for providing services to legal marijuana businesses. The “Marijuana …
By Ricardo Carvajal – In an opinion piece recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a trio of Colorado physicians examine the implications of legalization of marijuana in their home state. The authors summarize “expected” effects, including increased use of health care services in …
By James C. Shehan & Karla L. Palmer – In a curious posting on Friday, June 20, 2014, FDA with little fanfare set forth its latest position on medical marijuana. Amounting to little more than a statement of general support of scientific research on medical marijuana …
By John A. Gilbert – The 57th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (“CND”) recently convened in Vienna, Austria. A prominent issue on the first day of the general session included concern over the increased use of cannabis, especially for recreational purposes. The International Narcotics …
By Delia A. Stubbs – Pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 811(h), DEA may temporarily place substances in Schedule I of the List of Controlled Substances upon a finding that such action is necessary to avoid an imminent hazard to public health and safety. Using that authority, …
By Karla L. Palmer – On Monday, November 18, 2013, DEA released the 2013 National Drug Threat Assessment Summary, which provides an assessment of the threat posed to the United States by trafficking and abuse of illicit substances and non-medical use of controlled prescription drugs. The …
By Ricardo Carvajal – Colorado’s Department of Revenue recently published retail marijuana rules to implement that state’s Retail Marijuana Code (“RMC”). C.R.S. 12-43.4-101 et seq. The rules took effect on October 15, and are the culmination of a change in Colorado law that began with an …
By Karla L. Palmer – On January 22, 2013, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit dismissed a petition for review filed by several interest groups and individuals who petitioned DEA to initiate the federal rescheduling of marijuana. The case stems …
By Karla L. Palmer & Larry K. Houck – Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) Administrator Michele M. Leonhart, accompanied by officials from Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations (Richard Weber), Immigration and Customs Office of Homeland Security (James Chaparro), and U.S. Postal Inspections, held a press conference yesterday announcing …
By John A. Gilbert, Karla L. Palmer & Larry K. Houck – The Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (“FDASIA”) (S. 3187), which is on its way to the President for enactment after the Senate passed the bill by a 92-4 vote, may impact …
