Oklahoma Requires Medical Cannabis Companies to Register with DEA
- Oklahoma requires medical cannabis manufacturers and distributors to register with the DEA following federal reclassification of medical cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act.
- The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control (OBNDD) warned that failure to obtain DEA registration could lead to administrative sanctions, including possible revocation of OBNDD licenses.
- Licensees have 60 days from April 28, 2026, to obtain DEA registration, but OBNDD will delay enforcement actions until January 1, 2027, to reduce disruptions for lawfully operating businesses.
- The DEA has launched an online portal for state-licensed medical cannabis businesses to register federally, allowing compliance with federal law, tax relief under Section 280E, and access to traditional banking services.
In the wake of federal reclassification of medical cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control (OBNDD) is requiring medical cannabis manufacturer and distributor licensees to register with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
In the May 8 letter to medical cannabis licensees, the OBNDD said that “failure to obtain a DEA registration could result in OBNDD administrative sanctions up to and including the potential revocation of a registrant’s OBNDD registration(s)” which the agency says is “consistent with the requirements in place for other Schedule III registrants currently regulated by OBNDD.”
Medical cannabis licensees have 60 days from the federal government’s Final Order publication in the Federal Register to move medical cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III to obtain a DEA registration. However, OBNDD said it would not consider enforcement actions against licensees until January 1, 2027, in order to “minimize any impact on lawfully operating entities.”
The 60-day period began on April 28, 2026.
The DEA last month launched an online portal to allow state-licensed medical cannabis businesses to register with the federal government. Registered firms would be operating in full compliance with federal law and would thus no longer be subject to Internal Revenue Code Section 280E, providing immediate tax relief and access to traditional banking services.