Core Insights - President Trump's executive order to reschedule cannabis to Schedule 3 is considered a significant shift in federal cannabis policy, potentially alleviating the burdensome tax regime affecting U.S. cannabis operators for decades [1][2]. Tax Implications - The executive order could lead to the elimination of Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code, which currently taxes legal cannabis operators as if they were narcotics traffickers, preventing them from deducting any business expenses [2][3]. - Rescheduling cannabis to Schedule 3 would allow U.S. companies to deduct standard operating costs, significantly improving their financial health and cash flow [3]. Market Reaction - The cannabis industry is responding positively to the news, especially after a strong performance in 2025, where the AdvisorShares MSOS ETF outperformed the S&P 500 [4]. - Despite the optimistic outlook, the sector is still viewed as highly volatile, with many institutional investors remaining cautious due to past political inaction [4]. Remaining Challenges - Even with the potential rescheduling, U.S. cannabis companies still face hurdles, such as the inability to list on major exchanges like NASDAQ or NYSE, which is available to Canadian companies [5]. - The industry is also awaiting "safe harbor" provisions for banking, which remain unresolved [5]. Stock Performance - Recent performance data for cannabis stocks and ETFs shows varied results, with AdvisorShares Pure U.S. Cannabis ETF (NYSE:MSOS) leading with a 68.55% increase over six months, while other companies like Tilray Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY) and Canopy Growth Corp. (NASDAQ:CGC) show mixed performance [7].
Trump's Cannabis Rescheduling Order Could Finally Kill A Crushing Tax Rule And Transform US Weed Stocks, Says Expert - Aurora Cannabis (NASDAQ:ACB), Canopy Growth (NASDAQ:CGC)