Last week, the federal government announced the rescheduling of medicinal cannabis. The action, issued by the U.S. Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), is now being implemented. State-licensed medicinal cannabis businesses can begin registering through the DEA’s Medicinal Marijuana Dispensary Registration Portal.
The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) has requested a meeting with the DEA team working on the federal implementation plan. For now, the DEA has indicated it will share information publicly and all at once, rather than through state-specific briefings. DCC will continue to monitor federal updates as they are released, and we remain committed to supporting regulatory alignment and simplifying processes wherever possible.
With that in mind, we want to make you aware that DCC has streamlined the process for changing a license designation.
Cultivation licensees no longer need to wait until renewal to request a change to their adult-use (A) or medicinal-use (M) designation. Additionally, DCC no longer requires a new local authorization for requests that:
- Change a license to M‑designation only, or
- Add an M-designation to an existing A‑designation license
These changes are intended to simplify the request process and expedite the review process.
All licensees can request a change of designation at any time by submitting a Form 27: Notifications and Requests to Modify a License. The request must be submitted by the designated responsible party using the email address listed for them in the license record.
Please remember, you must continue operating under your current license designation until the request has been approved by DCC.
Coming soon: cultivation licensees will be able to see both A- and M-designations on their license record and certificate once system updates are complete. We’ll share more information as soon as this feature is available.
This should not be considered advice regarding whether or how licensees should participate in the federal medicinal cannabis program. If guidance is required, licensees should consult with their legal counsel.