WASHINGTON, D.C. / ACCESS Newswire / April 9, 2025 / The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the federal agency tasked with enforcing the nation's controlled substances laws, now finds itself in the center of a growing controversy that threatens its credibility. The issue isn't just about the bureaucratic delays that have stalled vital medical marijuana research, it's about the integrity of the individuals charged with upholding the law.
Aarathi Haig, the DEA attorney representing the agency in a high-profile lawsuit filed by MMJ BioPharma Cultivation, is currently listed as ineligible to practice law in New Jersey. Her lapsed status, with continuing legal education (CLE), IOLTA, and mandatory fee obligations, flies in the face of state and federal ethics requirements. This isn't a clerical error, it's a serious DEA Marijuana Ethics breach of professional conduct that calls into question the agency's oversight and ethical standards.
According to 28 U.S.C. § 530B, federal attorneys must abide by the ethical rules of the states where they are licensed. Haig's inability to maintain good standing with the New Jersey Bar directly violates this statute. The Department of Justice's Ethics Handbook outlines fundamental principles, such as honesty, integrity, and adherence to the law, which are undermined when an attorney fails to meet even the most basic professional obligations.
This is Not a Minor Technicality
MMJ BioPharma Cultivation, a company seeking to develop cannabis-based pharmaceuticals for Huntington's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis, has waited 7 years for DEA approval to conduct its research. The agency's delays have prompted a federal lawsuit, and now we learn that its legal representative may not even be ethically authorized to appear in court. This development bolsters MMJ's case and paints a troubling picture of selective enforcement and double standards.
Duane Boise, CEO of MMJ International Holdings, stated, "When private citizens or companies fall short of compliance, the DEA acts swiftly and decisively. The question is why there is no comparable urgency when the failure comes from within the DEA's own ranks? The agency's silence on this matter is not just a public relations problem; it's a breach of public trust."
The Public Deserves Answers
Has the DEA taken disciplinary action? Has Haig been removed from the case? What mechanisms exist within the DEA to ensure their attorneys meet the same standards the agency enforces on others?
Congress must act. Oversight hearings should be convened, and the DEA should be held accountable not only for its handling of MMJ's application but also for its internal ethical failures. The revelations about Haig offer a rare glimpse into an agency in need of reform that ensures fairness, transparency, and accountability at all levels.
At a time when the nation is reconsidering its policy approach to cannabis, we must also reconsider who is enforcing the law and whether they are living up to the standards they demand of others. When the enforcers become the violators, the law loses its moral authority.
IT'S TIME TO MAKE AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY GREAT AGAIN!!
MMJ is represented by attorney Megan Sheehan.
