In this edition of our Policy Council Conversations series originally aired on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 we hosted a conversation surrounding our public comments submitted to the the Drug Enforcement Administration regarding proposed rulemaking on cannabis research.

The Drug Enforcement Administration issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on cannabis research in 2020. If adopted, this rule would fundamentally change how cannabis research is conducted. NCIA submitted public comments, rejecting the DEA’s power grab and strongly suggesting that a public health agency (i.e. Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, etc.) lead on cannabis research. Simultaneously, lawyers at Yetter Coleman filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against DOJ, demanding the release of an OLC memo relied upon by DEA in their rulemaking. That successful suit was brought on behalf of Scottsdale Research Institute. This panel discussed the critical importance of cannabis research, the DEA rulemaking and NCIA’s numerous objections, and the lawsuit against DEA and the resulting disclosure of the DOJ policy memo.

Panelists:

Andrew Kline
Director of Public Policy
National Cannabis Industry Association

Jodi Avergun
Chair, White Collar and Criminal Defense and Investigations Group, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
Former Chief of Staff, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

Sue Sisley, MD
Principal Investigator
Scottsdale Research Institute

Matt Zorn
Associate
Yetter Coleman

Shane Pennington
Associate
Yetter Coleman