DEA Eases Requirements for FDA-Approved Clinical Trials on Cannabidiol

DEC 23 - (Washington, D.C.) – The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently eased some of the regulatory requirements imposed by the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) for those who are conducting Food and Drug Administration-approved clinical trials on cannabidiol (CBD), an extract of the marijuana plant.  These modifications will streamline the research process regarding CBD’s possible medicinal value and help foster ongoing scientific studies.  The DEA notified affected researchers by letter of the changes,  which take effect immediately.

Federal Regulation 21 CFR 1301.18 requires researchers conducting CBD-based clinical trials under an FDA Investigational New Drug Application to have a DEA research registration.  This registration permits the possession of an approved amount of CBD for a specific research protocol.  Prior to now, researchers who expanded the scope of their studies and needed more CBD than they were initially approved for had to request, in writing, a modification to their DEA research registrations – potentially delaying that research while the modification underwent an approval process that includes both the DEA and the FDA.  Under these changes, a previously registered CBD clinical researcher who is granted a waiver can readily modify their protocol and continue their research seamlessly.  This waiver effectively removes a step from the approval process.

Marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance because of the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), marijuana’s psychoactive ingredient.  Because CBD contains less than 1 percent THC and has shown some potential medicinal value, there is great interest in studying it for medical applications.  Currently, CBD is a Schedule I controlled substance as defined under the CSA.

Though the FDA approves drugs for medical use in the United States, the DEA regulates the handling of all controlled substances, including those being used by researchers to conduct studies.

Two 'Fugitives of The Week', Two States, 100 Miles Apart, One Day!

Tips Put Both in Handcuffs by U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force

Concord, NH - Two “Fugitives of the Week” were arrested yesterday by the U.S. Marshal’s, NH Joint Fugitive Task Force in matter of only a few hours. First was Michael Masterson, 27, who is a documented gang member, wanted on probation violations and failure to appear for a previously imposed jail sentence, stemming from a burglary conviction. The second was Laura Ritchie, 25, who was wanted by the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office for failure to appear on a heroin sales charge.

Michael Masterson was featured just last week as the “Fugitive of the Week.” This media feature led to multiple tips, which pointed to a residence on Collins Road in Ashland, NH. Early, Monday morning, members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, along with officers from the Ashland and Plymouth (NH) Police Departments went to the Collins Road address. Masterson was located inside the residence with his hair dyed blond in an effort to disguise his appearance, he was arrested without incident. Masterson was turned over to local authorities pending his return to the Rockingham County Jail to serve his sentence.

Laura Ritchie was featured as the “Fugitive of the Week” back on April 21, 2015. Ritchie had fled NH and VT to an unknown location in New Jersey. Efforts were continuing to locate Ritchie in NJ, when a series of anonymous tips came in to the US Marshals on Monday morning. These tips indicated that Ritchie had returned to Springfield, VT to visit her mother for the holidays. Members of the NH Joint Fugitive Task Force went to Vermont in an attempt to locate Ritchie. Members of the Marshals Fugitive Task Force and the Springfield (VT) Police Department went to the Ritchie family residence on Paddock Road, where Ritchie was located and arrested without incident. Ritchie was then turned over to the Springfield Police Department and charged as a fugitive from justice on her outstanding Sullivan County arrest warrant for sales of heroin. Ritchie will be held in custody pending her return to NH.

These arrests were made by several members of the fugitive task force, including members from the Strafford, Rockingham, Belknap County Sheriff’s Offices, police officers from the Ashland (NH), Plymouth (NH), and the Springfield (VT) Police Departments, along with deputy U.S. Marshals.

The “Fugitive of the Week” is featured every Wednesday on WTPL-FM, WMUR-TV, The Union Leader, The Nashua Telegraph, The Patch, Foster’s Daily Democrat, Manchester Information, The Manchester Ink Link and prominently featured on the internet. This program has been a remarkably successful tool that has resulted in the location and arrest of numerous fugitives since its implementation in 2007.

Since the inception of the New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force in 2002, these partnerships have resulted in over 6,089 arrests (Updated as of 7/29/2015). These arrests have ranged in seriousness from murder, assault, unregistered sex offenders, probation and parole violations and numerous other serious offenses. Nationally the United States Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, 7 regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.

FBI New York Art Crime Team Has Record Number of Art and Cultural Items Returned in Second Half of 2015, Seeks Public Assistance Locating Other Stolen Items

A Chilean tapestry, the Bark Washington painting, and the Ames Stradivarius violin were returned to their rightful owners following the investigative work and partnerships of the FBI’s New York Art Crime Team. The team is composed of Special Agents Meridith Savona and Christopher McKeogh, whose primary investigative work includes recovering art and cultural property and bringing those responsible for the theft, fraud, looting and trafficking to justice.

The Chilean tapestry known as The Ambassadors of Rome Offering the Throne to Numa Pompilio was returned in September 2015 to the owner’s attorney. The tapestry had been stolen from the owner’s residence in Santiago, Chile, in November 2006, and the theft was reported to INTERPOL Washington. The tapestry was recovered when it was placed for auction in New York in 2014. INTERPOL Washington requested the assistance of the FBI’s New York Art Crime Team on behalf of the Santiago Police to take custody of the tapestry. The case remains open with the Santiago Police. There were no charges filed against the parties attempting to auction the tapestry.

The Bark Washington painting was returned to the Oysterponds Historical Society in Orient, New York, by the FBI’s New York Art Crime Team in September. The painting, along with the Jennie French Potter painting and two whale busks, were stolen in March 2001. The return of the Bark Washington painting was made possible by an individual who bought the painting at an antique shop in East Marion, New York in 2001 for a few hundred dollars. The individual researched the painting on the FBI’s Stolen Art Database (https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/vc_majorthefts/arttheft/national-stolen-art-file) and discovered it was stolen. He then contacted the FBI, generously agreeing to return it to the rightful owner. The thief was never, and the case remains open.

A 1734 Stradivarius violin, the Ames Stradivarius, was returned in August to the heirs of deceased violinist Roman Totenberg. The violin was stolen from Mr. Totenberg in 1980, along with two antique bows, following a concert in the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was recovered by the FBI’s New York Art Crime Team in June 2015. The bows are still missing, and the FBI case remains open.

The FBI reminds the public to come forward with any information they may have about the missing items. Tips may be submitted to the FBI’s Art Crime Team at (212) 384-1000 or on our webpage (https://tips.fbi.gov/). Tipsters may remain anonymous. Art and cultural item buyers are recommended to review the FBI’s Stolen Art Database prior to a purchase to avoid civil forfeiture of stolen items.