On this episode of Ropes & Gray’s podcast series Controlling Opinions, life sciences regulatory and compliance partner Josh Oyster and counsel Beth Weinman are joined by health care partner Brett Friedman and litigation and enforcement partner Andrew O’Connor to discuss what’s to come in 2025 under the new Trump administration on key issues relating to controlled substances. The discussion covers:

• The DEA’s potential rescheduling of cannabis and the ongoing administrative hearing process.
• Updates on telemedicine flexibilities for prescribing controlled substances, including new rules and proposed regulations.
• Latest enforcement developments from the DOJ related to controlled substance prescribing via telemedicine, including notable cases and implications for the future.

Tune in for an insightful conversation on these critical topics and stay informed about the latest legal and regulatory changes in the life sciences and health care industries.

On this episode of Ropes & Gray’s podcast series Controlling Opinions, Josh Oyster, a partner in the life sciences regulatory and compliance practice group, is joined by colleagues Andrew O’Connor, a litigation and enforcement partner, and Beth Weinman, life sciences regulatory and compliance counsel. Together, they delve into the complexities of DEA diversion investigations and how health care entities can prepare for these challenging situations. They discuss the risks involved, the various players in these investigations, and the enforcement consequences that can result. They also provide practical advice on navigating DEA audits and share insights from recent enforcement matters.

On this episode of Ropes & Gray’s podcast series, Controlling Opinions, hear from partners Brett Friedman, Andrew O’Connor, and Josh Oyster regarding recent developments related to the prescribing of controlled substances via telemedicine. They discuss the current DEA regulatory landscape related to prescriptions of controlled substances via telemedicine and explore the implications of a recently announced prosecution in which the Department of Justice alleged that executives at a digital health company wrongfully distributed controlled substances via telemedicine.