US: MMJ BioPharma continue to allege DEA is trying to sabotage them

When former White House Drug Czar Rahul Gupta revealed that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had allegedly intentionally delayed marijuana rescheduling from within its own ranks, it sent shockwaves through the cannabis policy world. For MMJ BioPharma Cultivation, the federally compliant pharmaceutical company developing cannabinoid-based treatments for Huntington's disease and Multiple Sclerosis, this revelation merely confirms what they have alleged for years: bureaucratic sabotage from inside the DEA.

The similarities between MMJ's stalled license application and the national rescheduling impasse are too glaring to ignore, according to the company. "Both involve DEA officials subverting legal processes, ignoring scientific consensus, and acting contrary to Department of Justice (DOJ) directives. And in both cases, the ultimate cost is borne by suffering patients and U.S. scientific progress," said MMJ BioPharma in a statement.

The company says that it has meticulously adhered to all federal regulations, achieving significant milestones in its efforts to advance cannabinoid-based therapies. "The company has had two Investigational New Drug (IND) applications accepted by the FDA, underscoring its commitment to rigorous scientific standards. Additionally, it has been granted Orphan Drug Designation for its proprietary cannabinoid capsule, highlighting the potential therapeutic benefit of its innovations in treating rare conditions. Furthermore, MMJ BioPharma Cultivation has secured DEA Schedule I Analytical Laboratory registration, reflecting its compliance with stringent federal requirements for handling controlled substances."

Despite this, the DEA has refused to issue a Schedule I Bulk Manufacturing License necessary to grow cannabis for clinical trials. The agency's inaction has persisted for over seven years, despite multiple inspections and full compliance, according to MMJ BioPharma.

Gupta's recent statement to The New York Times revealed that the DEA's internal resistance to rescheduling cannabis had torpedoed the Biden administration's efforts. Despite HHS and FDA recommendations, and Attorney General Merrick Garland's approval, DEA leadership stalled the process and raised suspect questions about the medical value of cannabis, a move critics call "rigged."

"The irony is glaring," said MMJ CEO Duane Boise. "The DEA blocks lawful drug development while cartels profit. The agency is both gatekeeper and roadblock-and now, a constitutional liability."