Controlling Opinions

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. 

Welcome to the second installment of Ropes & Gray’s podcast series, Controlling Opinions, focused on current trends and developments related to controlled substances that affect the health care and life sciences industries. On this episode, hear a cross-practice team of Ropes & Gray attorneys—Josh Oyster, David Peloquin, and Beth Weinman—discuss current developments related to research with cannabis. Discussion points include how researchers aim to understand the impact of consumer-level cannabis use on the overall health of individuals and their communities, why research with cannabis is different from research with other drugs, and what the regulatory landscape for cannabis research looks like. 

Welcome to the first installment of Ropes & Gray’s new podcast series, Controlling Opinions, which is focused on current trends and developments related to controlled substances that affect the health care and life sciences industries. In this inaugural episode, hear a cross-practice team of Ropes & Gray attorneys—Andrew O’Connor, Josh Oyster, Stephen Warnke, and Beth Weinman—discuss the controlled substances issues that have their attention, including the potential federal rescheduling of marijuana; regulatory and legislative developments related to psychedelic drugs; litigation and enforcement developments involving opioids and ADHD medications; and enforcement trends and investigation best practices for diversion incidents at health care providers.