Cannabis Market Forecast: Top Trends That Will Affect Cannabis in 2025
2025 could be a year of transformation for the cannabis industry.
With rescheduling potentially on the horizon in the US, a new era of opportunity awaits. However, with a new president set to take the helm in January, uncertainty and key challenges remain for market participants.
Read on to learn more about trends that could shape the cannabis market in what may be a critical year.
Will the US reschedule cannabis in 2025?
The US cannabis market could see a major shift in 2025 if rescheduling finally happens.
This past May, the country’s Department of Justice initiated the process to reschedule cannabis from a Schedule I substance to a Schedule III substance; then, in August, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register, an important formal step.
On November 26, after a public comment period, the DEA announced it would hold a formal hearing on the matter. However, the process has encountered delays and is now not expected to be finalized until late 2025.
If successful, the move to reschedule cannabis has the potential to significantly benefit cannabis businesses by removing barriers to essential services like banking and patent protection. However, the path forward for rescheduling remains uncertain, particularly after Donald Trump’s win in the US election this past November.
During a roundtable discussion with cannabis industry leaders, the online magazine Cannabis Science and Technology asked experts how the results of this election might impact the rescheduling process.
Kim Anzarut, CEO and founder of Allay Consulting, replied, “Election results will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of cannabis rescheduling. With Trump’s re-election, Trump might continue to leave cannabis policy largely to the states but could lean toward rescheduling if it proves to be a popular move that aligns with GOP support for states’ rights.”
“On the other hand, new leadership could prioritize rescheduling or even push for full legalization to align with social equity and justice reform efforts. Either way, the FDA and DEA are being directed to reevaluate cannabis’ current status, which will set the stage for the inevitable regulatory overhaul,” she also told the news outlet.
David Vaillencourt, founder and CEO of the GMP Collective, chairman of S3 Collective and vice chair of ASTM International Committee D37 on Cannabis Standards, also expressed his thoughts, noting, “Trying to forecast what a Trump administration might do is like picking stocks based on a fortune cookie: amusing but unreliable.”
He added, “That said, there is reason for cautious optimism. Trump’s pick for Secretary of Health and Human Services – assuming he is confirmed by the Senate — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supports natural medicine and criticizes the FDA’s rigidness. Additionally, we saw Trump endorse Florida’s Amendment 3 to legalize adult-use cannabis. Whether this signals a genuine…
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