Biopharmaceutical research and product development firm Maridose LLC became the first entity outside of the University of Mississippi to receive approval from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to supply researchers with marijuana, extracts, and tetrahydrocannabinols (THC).

A company release announced this month the license granted by federal authorities will expand researchers’ access to modern cannabis varieties and products and is ends a decades-long monopoly held by the academic institution.

"We are very excited to receive this license from the DEA to produce and sell cannabis for research purpose, this a huge step for science and the future of cannabis.", said Richard Shain Maridose's founder, in a statement. "Our DEA Registration Number RM063095 is the culmination of over five years of working with the DEA and enables Maridose to legally sell a wide variety of cannabis products through the DEA to researchers and DEA-licensed pharmaceutical companies in the United States and internationally. The DEA has indicated that it will only issue a very limited number of them, and Maridose is proud to be one of the first companies to receive a license.

Maridose is establishing a Center of Excellence in Brunswick, ME that will focus on cultivation and product development of the Schedule 1 substances. The company licensed intellectual property from Israeli cannabis firm Tikun Olam and partners with Frauenhofer USA on research.

“Cannabis businesses operating in states that have state legal cannabis are unable to ship across state lines and operate at legal risk because cannabis remains a Schedule 1 substance at the federal level. Maridose is able to legally supply our customers without these risks and limitations."