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DEA issues its first federal registrations to 900-plus medical marijuana dispensaries. Illinois isn't in the first wave.

The short answer: On Oct. 30, 2026, the Justice Department said DEA is issuing its first federal registrations to more than 900 state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries in seven states. Illinois is not among them. DEA's Oct. 30 list shows 82 Illinois timely applicants, who may keep operating under their state medical licenses while their applications are pending.

The Justice Department says dispensaries in seven states are first. DEA's own list shows 82 Illinois businesses still waiting as timely applicants, and a new DEA letter spells out what they may do meanwhile.

By Monsaur OthmanPublished October 31, 2026Last updated October 31, 20266 sources linked

A stone entrance to the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building in Washington, with 'Department of Justice' carved into the wall — An entrance to the Justice Department's headquarters in Washington. File photo from February 2025. Photo: G. Edward Johnson / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (cropped) · CC BY 4.0

What changed

DOJ said Oct. 30, 2026 that DEA is issuing its first federal registrations to more than 900 state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia, the first phase of implementing the attorney general's April 23 order under 21 U.S.C. 811(d). Sources below

The federal government has started issuing registrations to state-licensed medical marijuana businesses. On Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, the Justice Department said the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is issuing its first registrations to more than 900 medical marijuana dispensaries in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia (DOJ, Oct. 30, 2026). It called them the first phase of the attorney general's April 23 order implementing Schedule III controls for certain medical marijuana activities. Dakota News Now and Marijuana Moment reported the announcement the same day.

Key facts - Announced Oct. 30, 2026, by the Justice Department - First wave: 900-plus medical dispensaries in AL, FL, MS, SD, TX, VA and WV - Illinois: not in the first wave; 82 Illinois timely applicants on DEA's Oct. 30 list - Pending applicants may keep operating under their state medical license - Adult-use marijuana stays in Schedule I

Who got registered first, and why?

DOJ said DEA started with dispensaries that applied during the order's first 60-day window, met federal requirements and passed a DEA pre-registration investigation. Applicants also had to operate under a state medical program consistent with federal law and U.S. treaty obligations. "State licensure alone does not automatically grant federal registration," the department said. Registered dispensaries must follow federal security, recordkeeping and inventory rules (DOJ).

DOJ did not say why those seven states came first, or give a per-state count. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department "will continue prosecuting illegal marijuana trafficking and related criminal activity in accordance with federal law."

Where does Illinois stand?

Illinois is not in the first wave, and DOJ gave no timeline for other states. DEA publishes a daily list of "timely applicants," businesses that applied during the window and are still waiting. Its Oct. 30 file has 82 Illinois entries by our count: 59 dispensaries, 17 manufacturers and 6 distributors (DEA timely-applicant list, file date Oct. 30, 2026). The list shows only state, business type and a control number, not names.

Nationwide, the same file has 6,983 entries across 44 jurisdictions: 4,197 dispensaries, 2,076 manufacturers and 710 distributors. Marijuana Moment reported that DEA put the total at nearly 7,000. DEA says the list changes as applicants are registered or withdraw (DEA, Medical Marijuana Information), so it can't be used to count how many have been registered.

What may waiting applicants do?

A DEA letter dated Oct. 30 sets the rules for timely applicants, meaning those who applied between April 28 and June 26, 2026 (DEA timely-applicant letter, Oct. 30, 2026 (PDF)). In summary, it says:

They may keep dispensing, manufacturing or distributing under their state medical license while their application is pending.
They may deal only with other timely applicants or DEA registrants. Dealing with anyone else could be grounds to deny an application or revoke a registration.
They should check a trading partner's document control number on DEA's website, get a copy of its confirmation, confirm its state license and keep records of those checks.
DEA registrants must keep federal (Part 1304) records. When they deal with a timely applicant, those records can use its document control number where a registration number would go.
Where no DEA-registered testing lab is available, DEA says it does not intend to penalize sending very small (de minimis) amounts to a lab in the same state, if detailed records are kept.

This is a summary of DEA's letter, not legal advice. Businesses should read the letter and talk to counsel.

What about growers, processors and adult-use sales?

Manufacturer and distributor applications need more review, including facility inspections, production controls and quota decisions, DOJ said. The order covers only defined medical marijuana activity. It does not authorize recreational use, and marijuana outside it, including Illinois adult-use sales, stays in Schedule I. Broader rescheduling is a separate DEA proceeding; reply briefs are due Nov. 5. Our April rule explainer covers the medical versus adult-use line in Illinois.

Sources

More federal rules: see our federal rules tracker and Illinois rules tracker.

Drafted with AI assistance from primary sources. Written and edited by The Highline Report newsroom under Monsaur Othman's editorial standards. Read how we use AI, our editorial policy and our corrections policy.

For adults 21+. News and education only. Nothing here is a health claim, legal or tax advice, or an offer to sell.

Key facts and where they come from

DOJ said Oct. 30, 2026 that DEA is issuing its first federal registrations to more than 900 state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia, the first phase of implementing the attorney general's April 23 order under 21 U.S.C. 811(d). source 1 · source 2
DOJ said the first registrations went to dispensaries that applied in the order's initial 60-day period, met federal requirements and passed a DEA pre-registration investigation; 'State licensure alone does not automatically grant federal registration'; registered dispensaries face federal security, recordkeeping and inventory-control requirements. source 1 · source 2
DOJ said manufacturer and distributor applications need additional review, including facility inspections, production controls and quota determinations; pending timely applicants may continue transactions; the order does not authorize recreational marijuana; marijuana outside the order stays in Schedule I; a separate proceeding considers broader rescheduling. source 1 · source 2
DEA's timely-applicant list dated Oct. 30, 2026 has 6,983 entries across 44 jurisdictions (4,197 dispensary, 2,076 manufacturer, 710 distributor), including 82 for Illinois (59 dispensary, 17 manufacturer, 6 distributor). Counts are the newsroom's tally of the file. source 1
DEA says the list may change as timely applicants are granted registrations or withdraw, and it is updated daily; it lists state, business activity and a control number, not business names. source 1
DEA's Oct. 30 letter says timely applicants (applications filed April 28 to June 26, 2026; 21 CFR 1301.13(k)(7)) may keep dispensing, manufacturing or distributing under their state medical license while pending; may transact only with other timely applicants or DEA registrants, and other dealings could be grounds for denial or revocation; should verify a counterparty's document control number on DEA's website and keep records; says DEA registrants must keep Part 1304 records and may use a timely applicant's document control number where a registration number would go; and says DEA does not intend to penalize de minimis shipments for testing to an in-state lab that is not DEA-registered, with detailed records, where no DEA-registered lab is available. source 1
Marijuana Moment reported DEA separately said Oct. 30 that nearly 7,000 medical marijuana businesses have applied. source 1