Latest news with #MMJBioPharma
Associated Press
7 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
DEA Marijuana Hypocrisy On Full Display: Why are U.S. Cannabis Companies Exporting Illegally While MMJ BioPharma Is Stonewalled?
'The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is embroiled in a glaring contradiction: While federally compliant medical cannabis researchers like MMJ BioPharma Cultivation remain paralyzed by bureaucratic delays, U.S. recreational cannabis companies are openly exporting products, intellectual property and money to Europe -flouting federal law with no DEA intervention', stated Duane Boise, CEO MMJ. This double standard exposes a system prioritizing corporate profits over scientific progress and public health, undermining the DEA's mandate under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / May 28, 2025 / While federally compliant pharmaceutical cannabis researchers like MMJ BioPharma Cultivation remain blocked from growing marijuana for FDA-authorized clinical trials, U.S. recreational cannabis companies are quietly shipping marijuana products, IP, and profits across the Atlantic - with virtually no resistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This is not just a contradiction. It's a federal double standard that protects commercial profit over public health, sabotages scientific research, and undermines the DEA's credibility under the Controlled Substances Act. DEA Allows Illegal Cannabis Exports? According to a recent Forbes report, major U.S. cannabis companies - including Curaleaf, Cookies, and Active are aggressively expanding in Europe, despite marijuana remaining a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. The DEA strictly prohibits interstate commerce and international export of THC-based cannabis without explicit DEA authorization. So how are these companies doing it? They exploit legal loopholes using foreign subsidiaries, licensing arrangements, and strategic partnerships, effectively laundering money and Schedule I products into global markets like Germany, Portugal, and the UK. Active, a U.S. vaporizer manufacturer, now derives over 5% of its revenue from European cannabis companies and expects to double that soon. And yet - no DEA raids, no shutdowns, no warning letters. MMJ BioPharma: Fully Compliant, Legally Paralyzed Contrast that with MMJ BioPharma Cultivation, which has: Since 2018, MMJ has been waiting for the DEA to issue a Schedule I bulk manufacturing registration to grow its research material. Instead of approval, MMJ received a legally and constitutionally defective Order to Show Cause, overseen by an ALJ whose appointment the DOJ itself has now conceded was unconstitutional. Why the delay? Because MMJ's business model doesn't align with recreational profits - it's built on scientific rigor, regulatory compliance, and public health impact. And in today's DEA, that seems to be a liability. Federal Dysfunction: Policy by Profit, Not by Science The DEA's inaction toward exporters and aggression toward MMJ reflects a broader bureaucratic rot. While state-licensed cannabis operators are treated as de facto legal - despite violating federal law daily - those seeking federal compliance for clinical research are punished with silence, obstruction, and delay. This is not enforcement. It's economic favoritism posing as policy. As Beau Whitney, founder of Whitney Economics, told Forbes: 'The U.S. market is state by state and dysfunctional… from an investment perspective, it's high risk, low return, which is upside down.' Will Terrance Cole Break the Cycle? Incoming DEA Administrator Terrance Cole inherits a mess: Cole's choice is simple: Time to Choose Between Cartels and Clinics MMJ BioPharma Cultivation has followed the law. It has built the infrastructure. It has earned FDA authorization. And yet, it is treated as an outsider by the very agency tasked with enabling lawful scientific research. Meanwhile, unlicensed exports are booming, and DEA looks the other way. If Terrance Cole DEA (administrator to be confirmed) and the Trump administration are serious about federal cannabis reform, medical research, and agency accountability, they must answer this question: Why is the DEA helping companies skirt the law overseas while blocking the one company that's trying to follow it at home? It's time to stop the DEA clown show, and let science lead. MMJ is represented by attorney Megan Sheehan. CONTACT: Madison Hisey [email protected] 203-231-8583 SOURCE: MMJ International Holdings press release
Associated Press
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
DEA's Internal Marijuana Resistance: MMJ BioPharma Delays Reflect a Wider Cannabis Rescheduling Crisis
As Former White House Drug Czar Rahul Gupta revealed DEA intentional sabotage, will DEA Administrator Nominee Terrance Cole Address the Marijuana Crisis? Bureaucratic Inaction and Medical Delays Demand Accountability. WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / May 25, 2025 / When former White House Drug Czar Rahul Gupta revealed that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had 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 endured 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. 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. MMJ's Seven-Year Delay: Compliance Met with Contempt MMJ BioPharma Cultivation has followed every federal rule: Yet 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. The delay isn't based on science. It isn't based on law. It's based on unaccountable bureaucrats like DEA Deputy Assistant Administrator Thomas Prevoznik and marijuana policy administrator Matthew Strait, who wield unchecked power behind closed doors. Echoes of the Rescheduling Crisis 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.' Sound familiar? That's precisely what MMJ BioPharma Cultivation has alleged in court: that DEA officials have subverted the Controlled Substances Act and DOJ policies, intentionally obstructing the lawful drug development process. Constitutional Violations, Ignored Directives The Supreme Court's Axon ruling declared the DEA's Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) system unconstitutional. In line with this, DOJ formally informed courts it would no longer defend those ALJ tribunals. Yet MMJ's case was just sent back into that exact invalid hearing structure, scheduled for June 11, 2025. This isn't mere delay. It's institutional defiance of the rule of law. The Real Victims: Patients and Science While DEA officials delay and deflect, patients with progressive neurological disorders continue to suffer. MMJ's therapies could offer relief, but the agency that should be enabling scientific advancement has instead become its greatest obstacle. Meanwhile, as DEA devotes resources to sabotaging federally compliant companies, it admits in its own 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment that cartel-backed operations are thriving in legalized states, exploiting weak oversight. '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.' Time for Accountability MMJ BioPharma is calling on: 'This is no longer about science or safety,' Boise concluded. 'This is about entrenched power, defiance of the law, and a complete abandonment of the public interest. Congress must act now.' MMJ is represented by attorney Megan Sheehan. CONTACT: Madison Hisey [email protected] 203-231-85832 SOURCE: MMJ International Holdings press release
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DEA's Internal Marijuana Resistance: MMJ BioPharma Delays Reflect a Wider Cannabis Rescheduling Crisis
As Former White House Drug Czar Rahul Gupta revealed DEA intentional sabotage, will DEA Administrator Nominee Terrance Cole Address the Marijuana Crisis? Bureaucratic Inaction and Medical Delays Demand Accountability. WASHINGTON, DC / / May 25, 2025 / When former White House Drug Czar Rahul Gupta revealed that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had 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 endured 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. 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. MMJ's Seven-Year Delay: Compliance Met with Contempt MMJ BioPharma Cultivation has followed every federal rule: Two Investigational New Drug (IND) applications accepted by the FDA. Orphan Drug Designation granted for its proprietary cannabinoid capsule. DEA Schedule I Analytical Laboratory registration issued. Yet 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. The delay isn't based on science. It isn't based on law. It's based on unaccountable bureaucrats like DEA Deputy Assistant Administrator Thomas Prevoznik and marijuana policy administrator Matthew Strait, who wield unchecked power behind closed doors. Echoes of the Rescheduling Crisis 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." Sound familiar? That's precisely what MMJ BioPharma Cultivation has alleged in court: that DEA officials have subverted the Controlled Substances Act and DOJ policies, intentionally obstructing the lawful drug development process. Constitutional Violations, Ignored Directives The Supreme Court's Axon ruling declared the DEA's Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) system unconstitutional. In line with this, DOJ formally informed courts it would no longer defend those ALJ tribunals. Yet MMJ's case was just sent back into that exact invalid hearing structure, scheduled for June 11, 2025. This isn't mere delay. It's institutional defiance of the rule of law. The Real Victims: Patients and Science While DEA officials delay and deflect, patients with progressive neurological disorders continue to suffer. MMJ's therapies could offer relief, but the agency that should be enabling scientific advancement has instead become its greatest obstacle. Meanwhile, as DEA devotes resources to sabotaging federally compliant companies, it admits in its own 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment that cartel-backed operations are thriving in legalized states, exploiting weak oversight. "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." Time for Accountability MMJ BioPharma is calling on: Congress to launch immediate oversight into DEA misconduct. DOJ to enforce its own policies and halt illegal proceedings. DEA Nominee Terrance Cole to commit to ending this sabotage and comply with judicial precedent. "This is no longer about science or safety," Boise concluded. "This is about entrenched power, defiance of the law, and a complete abandonment of the public interest. Congress must act now." MMJ is represented by attorney Megan Sheehan. CONTACT:Madison HiseyMHisey@ SOURCE: MMJ International Holdings View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DEA's Internal Marijuana Resistance: MMJ BioPharma Delays Reflect a Wider Cannabis Rescheduling Crisis
As Former White House Drug Czar Rahul Gupta revealed DEA intentional sabotage, will DEA Administrator Nominee Terrance Cole Address the Marijuana Crisis? Bureaucratic Inaction and Medical Delays Demand Accountability. WASHINGTON, DC / / May 25, 2025 / When former White House Drug Czar Rahul Gupta revealed that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had 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 endured 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. 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. MMJ's Seven-Year Delay: Compliance Met with Contempt MMJ BioPharma Cultivation has followed every federal rule: Two Investigational New Drug (IND) applications accepted by the FDA. Orphan Drug Designation granted for its proprietary cannabinoid capsule. DEA Schedule I Analytical Laboratory registration issued. Yet 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. The delay isn't based on science. It isn't based on law. It's based on unaccountable bureaucrats like DEA Deputy Assistant Administrator Thomas Prevoznik and marijuana policy administrator Matthew Strait, who wield unchecked power behind closed doors. Echoes of the Rescheduling Crisis 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." Sound familiar? That's precisely what MMJ BioPharma Cultivation has alleged in court: that DEA officials have subverted the Controlled Substances Act and DOJ policies, intentionally obstructing the lawful drug development process. Constitutional Violations, Ignored Directives The Supreme Court's Axon ruling declared the DEA's Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) system unconstitutional. In line with this, DOJ formally informed courts it would no longer defend those ALJ tribunals. Yet MMJ's case was just sent back into that exact invalid hearing structure, scheduled for June 11, 2025. This isn't mere delay. It's institutional defiance of the rule of law. The Real Victims: Patients and Science While DEA officials delay and deflect, patients with progressive neurological disorders continue to suffer. MMJ's therapies could offer relief, but the agency that should be enabling scientific advancement has instead become its greatest obstacle. Meanwhile, as DEA devotes resources to sabotaging federally compliant companies, it admits in its own 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment that cartel-backed operations are thriving in legalized states, exploiting weak oversight. "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." Time for Accountability MMJ BioPharma is calling on: Congress to launch immediate oversight into DEA misconduct. DOJ to enforce its own policies and halt illegal proceedings. DEA Nominee Terrance Cole to commit to ending this sabotage and comply with judicial precedent. "This is no longer about science or safety," Boise concluded. "This is about entrenched power, defiance of the law, and a complete abandonment of the public interest. Congress must act now." MMJ is represented by attorney Megan Sheehan. CONTACT:Madison HiseyMHisey@ SOURCE: MMJ International Holdings View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Associated Press
23-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
DEA Defies Supreme Court and Attorney General, Targeting Marijuana Compliant Pharmaceutical Research While Cartels Operate Unchecked
'The irony is glaring,' said Boise. 'The DEA blocks lawful drug development while cartels profit. The agency is both gatekeeper and roadblock-and now, a constitutional liability.' The DEA's own 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment admits that illicit cannabis operations tied to foreign cartels thrive in legalized states, operating under state licenses while DEA policy bureaucrats Thomas Prevoznik and Matthew Strait remains unchecked. WASHINGTON, D.C. / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / In a brazen act of regulatory defiance, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has reignited its unlawful campaign against MMJ BioPharma Cultivation, a federally compliant cannabinoid-based pharmaceutical company. This comes in direct contradiction to a Supreme Court ruling, the stance of the Department of Justice (DOJ), and overwhelming public support for medical cannabis reform. On May 19, the DEA's Office of Administrative Law Judges issued an order rescheduling a prehearing conference with MMJ BioPharma for June 11, 2025. This comes despite the fact that the DOJ-through the Attorney General Pam Bondi-has formally notified federal courts that it will no longer defend the constitutionality of DEA's internal tribunal system. The DEA's administrative law courts were ruled structurally invalid by the Supreme Court for violating Article II of the Constitution. 'This is a rogue agency acting outside the law,' said Duane Boise, CEO of MMJ International Holdings. 'The DEA is not just obstructing medical research-it's defying the Constitution, the Supreme Court, and the Attorney General.' DEA Crusade Against MMJ Medical Cannabis Developer MMJ BioPharma has spent more than seven years complying with every federal requirement to develop cannabinoid-based therapies for serious neurological conditions. The company holds: - Two FDA-accepted INDs - Orphan Drug Designation for Huntington's disease - A DEA-registered Schedule I Analytical Laboratory - Partnerships with GMP-certified manufacturers and international distribution networks Despite these credentials, the DEA refuses to issue a Schedule I Bulk Manufacturing License-a mandatory step to produce cannabis for FDA-approved clinical trials. Instead of resolving the matter in federal court, the agency is again using a discredited tribunal structure already struck down by the nation's highest court. The DEA's 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment confirms that transnational cartels continue operating under state cannabis licenses, exploiting regulatory gaps in legalized states. While illicit actors thrive, the agency devotes its energy to obstructing a law-abiding, federally regulated pharmaceutical innovator. 'The irony is glaring,' Boise added. 'The DEA blocks lawful drug development while criminal enterprises profit. The agency is both gatekeeper and roadblock-and now, a constitutional liability.' A Constitutional and Scientific Crisis Science Denied: - DEA disregards the 2023 HHS recommendation, based on FDA-reviewed evidence, to reclassify cannabis as Schedule III - Ignores decades of clinical data from global medical programs on epilepsy, chronic pain, and PTSD Constitutional Violations: - DEA continues using tribunals declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court - DEA operates in defiance of the Attorney General's directive that DOJ will not defend these proceedings Public Will Ignored: - 69% of 40,000+ public comments called for full descheduling - DEA continues to invoke debunked 'gateway drug' rhetoric Economic Harm: - DEA delays access to treatments for Huntington's, MS, and pain - All while the U.S. federally illegal cannabis market exceeds $32 billion annually 'The DEA is enforcing a backroom hidden anti marijuana agenda-not public safety,' said Boise. 'While cartels flourish, the agency uses taxpayer resources to sabotage federally compliant innovators and delay treatments for suffering patients. This is no longer about regulation-this is rogue retaliation.' The Path Forward: Accountability Now MMJ International Holdings calls on: - Congress to launch oversight hearings into DEA obstruction and administrative abuse - DOJ to halt all unconstitutional proceedings in accordance with the Axon ruling - DEA nominee Terrance Cole to commit to ending the agency's war on science 'The DEA's credibility is bankrupt,' Boise concluded. 'It's time for Congress to end this obstruction-patients' lives depend on it.' MMJ is represented by attorney Megan Sheehan. CONTACT: Madison Hisey [email protected] 203-231-8583 SOURCE: MMJ International Holdings press release
