News · United States
The DEA has approved federal registrations for more than 900 medical cannabis dispensaries in the US, but turned down a Minneapolis business because of Minnesota's dual-use licensing. The split shows how far federal rules still sit from state-level cannabis markets.
Key points
- More than 900 medical cannabis dispensaries in seven US states received DEA approval, according to Marijuana Moment and Law360.
- The DEA refused In-Dispensary in Minneapolis, citing Minnesota's dual medical and adult-use licensing.
- The Minneapolis business has 30 days to request a hearing or submit a corrective action plan.
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The US Drug Enforcement Administration is now registering medical cannabis businesses at scale. Not every state is getting the same answer, though.
900+ dispensaries get federal approval
According to Marijuana Moment and Law360, more than 900 medical cannabis businesses have received federal approval. They also gain the protections that come with it.
All of them are in seven states: Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
What these states have in common
- Each allows medical cannabis only.
- Virginia is the one nuance: it legalised adult-use sales this year but has not yet launched licences.
Marijuana Moment links the benefits to the Trump administration’s federal reclassification of cannabis.
The Minnesota denial in detail
The DEA sent an order to In-Dispensary in Minneapolis, refusing federal registration. The reason given: Minnesota’s dual-use licence, which covers both medical and non-medical cannabis. Per Marijuana Moment, the agency declines protections for dispensaries in any state that allows dual-use licences.
The DEA listed other grounds too:
- no written physician certifications for some patients, such as military veterans;
- the authorisation of synthetic cannabis products derived from hemp.
What the DEA says
Cheri Oz, assistant administrator of the DEA’s Diversion Control Division, said in the order, as reported by Marijuana Moment, that registering businesses operating under Minnesota law would conflict with the Controlled Substances Act and with US obligations under international treaties. The agency also argued the state system lacks robust safeguards against diversion, since non-medical use remains prohibited federally.
What Minnesota says
The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management responded that the order does not change state law, which authorises both medical and adult-use programmes. Medical cannabis, it said, remains available to patients.
What happens next
In-Dispensary has 30 days to request a hearing or to submit a corrective action plan. Other Minnesota dispensaries can do the same.
Two questions remain open, per the same report. Nobody knows if or how adult-use businesses could get federal registration under a broader reclassification. The outcome of the DEA’s ongoing hearing on rescheduling beyond medical cannabis is also unknown.
What this changes for you
If you live in Europe, nothing here changes the rules where you are. US federal registration is an American matter.
It could still matter as a signal. It shows that even after reclassification, regulators may keep drawing a line between medical-only and dual-use systems. Rules on cannabis products differ from country to country in Europe, so it is worth checking the official rules of your own country. If you are curious about the legal-market side of things, our guide to what edibles actually are is a good place to start, and you can browse our CBD flower range as well.
FAQ
How many dispensaries did the DEA approve?
More than 900 medical cannabis dispensaries, according to Marijuana Moment and Law360. They are located in seven US states.
Why did the DEA deny the Minneapolis dispensary?
The DEA cited Minnesota's dual-use licence, missing written physician certifications for some patients, and the authorisation of synthetic hemp-derived cannabis products. The report comes from Marijuana Moment.
Can the Minnesota dispensary contest the decision?
Yes. In-Dispensary has 30 days to request a hearing or to submit a corrective action plan.
Sources
- Marijuana Moment — DEA Refuses To Approve Marijuana Businesses In States That Allow Dual Medical And Recreational Licensing
- Law360 — DEA Begins Registering Hundreds of Marijuana Dispensaries
