A DEA registered pharmacy is exempt from the Ryan Haight Act if:

A DEA registered pharmacy is exempt from the Ryan Haight Act if its dispensing activities consist solely of fulfilling new or refilling prescriptions for controlled substances classified as Schedule III, IV, or V. The key aspect of the Act is to set regulations for online pharmacies dispensing controlled substances, specifically to ensure that patients receive proper evaluations before medications are prescribed.

Since Schedule III, IV, and V drugs generally present a lower risk for abuse compared to Schedule I or II substances, pharmacies that limit their activities to these schedules do not fall under the stringent requirements of the Ryan Haight Act primarily aimed at higher scheduled drugs. Therefore, the exemption is based on the nature of the controlled substances being dispensed, as the Act is more concerned with the potential for abuse associated with higher-scheduled drugs.

Options that involve solely filling prescriptions for Schedule I or II drugs or those operating without face-to-face evaluations do not qualify for this exemption, as they are either directly regulated by the Act or involve circumstances that it aims to address. Additionally, partnering with unregistered online retailers would further violate regulations rather than provide an exemption.