Welcome to the latest edition of “Last week in Weed,” catching you up on the latest breaking news and industry developments in the world of cannabis.
Here’s what you may have missed over the last week:
Trump Considers Cannabis Rescheduling
A Washington Post report revealed that President Trump is weighing an executive order to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. The shift wouldn’t legalize the plant, but it would lift major tax burdens on state-licensed operators by neutralizing 280E.
Brian Vicente of Vicente LLP called the potential change “a massive, positive effect” for businesses finally able to deduct standard operating expenses.
Shawn Hauser, also of Vicente LLP, said the move signals “a new era of public health policy,” but noted that true reform still requires federal legalization and a comprehensive regulatory framework.
Market Rally Stalls Amid Rescheduling Uncertainty
Later in the week, the initial stock surge began to cool. Major operators including Tilray and Canopy Growth drifted downward as investors reassessed the practical challenges of federal rescheduling. Uncertainty around timing, DEA action, and the scope of any policy change led to a more cautious market response after the early-week surge.
This pullback indicated how swiftly momentum can reverse when definitive regulatory details fail to materialize. Analysts emphasized that until the administration releases a formal directive—and the DEA responds—cannabis stocks will remain sensitive to rumor, rhetoric, and shifting political winds.
Texas Opens Its Largest Medical Cannabis Facility
Texas Original debuted a 75,000-square-foot cultivation and processing campus near Austin, now the state’s largest medical cannabis facility. The site includes expanded grow rooms, extraction capacity, and distribution infrastructure designed to serve a growing patient base under the state’s Compassionate Use Program.
The investment reflects cautious but meaningful movement in one of the country’s most restrictive medical markets. As enrollment climbs and legislative interest slowly inches forward, operators are positioning themselves for a potentially broader medical framework in the years ahead.
Minnesota Confronts Early Signs of Retail Oversaturation
Minnesota regulators issued warnings about rapid dispensary expansion after a surge of license applications created dense clusters of planned retailers, particularly in the Twin Cities. With cultivation capacity still developing, the uneven growth has raised concerns about early-stage market instability.
Officials note that unmanaged expansion could pressure margins, accelerate consolidation, and mirror the struggles seen in other young markets. As Minnesota prepares for adult-use sales, balancing open licensing with long-term viability has emerged as a pressing challenge.
