Medical Cannabis Is Now Schedule III: DEA Registration Action Plan for Maine Licensees

On April 23, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued an order placing FDA-approved marijuana products and state-licensed medical marijuana products into Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act—an immediate, targeted shift with real compliance implications for medical operators.

For Maine medical cannabis licensees, the most urgent development is the new DEA registration window: operators who submit a complete application by June 22, 2026 may qualify for expedited processing and preserve their ability to continue operating while DEA review is pending. The challenge is that the DEA is not offering a cannabis-specific application—licensees will be applying for authorization to dispense a Schedule III drug, which requires careful issue-spotting and planning.
 
In this webinar, Verrill Partner Jill Cohen will break down what the rescheduling does (and does not) change, highlight immediate impacts for medical licensees and patients, and walk through a practical approach to preparing a strong application.

We will cover:

• What the DOJ’s Schedule III order covers and what remains unchanged
• Key impacts for medical licensees and patients (280E, banking, R&D, DEA registration)
• DEA registration timeline and urgency (now through June 22)
• Application issue-spotting: track & trace, testing, and disqualifying drug convictions
• Impacts for adult use licensees
• Live Q&A

We invite Verrill clients to join us for this complimentary webinar.