A California company is seeking approval from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to import marijuana, THC and several psychedelic substances for use in research and clinical trials.
In a Federal Register notice scheduled for publication September 14, the DEA says Irvine Labs, Inc., based in Huntington Beach, California, applied August 13 to become a registered importer of multiple Schedule I controlled substances.
The application includes marijuana, marijuana extract and tetrahydrocannabinols, along with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), mescaline, peyote, diethyltryptamine, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), psilocybin and psilocin. All of the substances included in the application are currently listed under Schedule I of the federal Controlled Substances Act.
According to the DEA, Irvine Labs plans to import bulk substances to support internal research, clinical trials, analytical purposes and distribution to customers.
For marijuana, marijuana extract and THC, the company specifically plans to import raw plant material and extracts. The registration would not authorize other activities involving those substances.
The DEA notes that approval of individual import applications would occur only when the company’s activities are consistent with federal law. The authorization would not extend to importing Food and Drug Administration-approved or unapproved finished dosage forms for commercial sale.
Registered bulk manufacturers of the substances, along with other applicants, will have 30 days following publication of the notice to submit comments or objections to the proposed registration or request a hearing.
