Shares of cannabis firms rose in premarket trading on Thursday, driven by expectations that U.S. President Donald Trump will sign an executive order easing federal regulations on marijuana. ...

Group 1 - The U.S. Senate has taken a crucial step towards ending a record-long government shutdown, with moderate Democrats breaking party leadership's blockade to support a deal [1] - The Senate passed a procedural motion to advance the bill with a vote of 60 to 40, but the final vote timing remains uncertain [1] - The agreement framework includes full-year budgets for the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Congress itself, while funding for other government departments will be maintained until January 30 [1][2] Group 2 - The bill will retroactively pay salaries to furloughed government employees, restore federal funding to state and local governments, and rehire federal employees laid off during the shutdown [1] - The outcome of the government shutdown remains uncertain, as any senator can delay proceedings, and the House of Representatives must also approve the bill [1][2] - House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated that he would notify members two days in advance for a vote, while Trump expressed optimism about the shutdown nearing an end [1] Group 3 - The ongoing shutdown has caused an estimated economic loss of about $15 billion per week, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating a 1.5 percentage point reduction in annualized GDP growth rate by mid-November [5] - Consumer confidence has dropped to a three-year low due to anxiety over the shutdown, inflation, and rising unemployment [5] - The bill, if passed, would limit the sale of intoxicating cannabis products, potentially benefiting the beer industry, while the cannabis industry claims this regulation could jeopardize 325,000 jobs [5]

Core Points - The U.S. federal government shutdown is nearing an end as moderate Democratic senators agree to support a deal to restart the government and fund certain departments for the entire year [2][3] - The agreement includes full-year budgets for the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Congress itself, while funding for other agencies will continue until January 30 [2] - The bill will retroactively pay salaries to furloughed government employees, restore federal funding to state and local governments, and recall employees laid off during the shutdown [2] Legislative Process - The Senate is set to hold a procedural test vote, and if it passes, a full Senate vote will be required to quickly end the shutdown [3] - The House of Representatives must also pass the bill to restart government operations, with Speaker Mike Johnson indicating that he will notify members two days in advance for a vote [4] Political Dynamics - President Trump expressed optimism about the shutdown ending, while Senator Tim Kaine emphasized the bill's prohibition on new federal layoffs before January 30 [5] - The House Democrats, led by Hakeem Jeffries, plan to oppose the Republican bill, indicating a continuation of partisan tensions [6] - The ongoing negotiations reflect a pattern where parties attempt to leverage government shutdowns for policy victories, which historically have not succeeded [6] Budgetary Implications - The Democrats have previously rejected a clean temporary spending bill that would have kept departments running until November 21 [7] - The Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer stated opposition to the current agreement, advocating for an extension of the soon-to-expire Obamacare tax credits [7] - The Republican strategy has pressured Senate Democrats into compromise, although they still need bipartisan support to end debate on the spending bill [7] Economic Impact - The shutdown is causing an estimated loss of $15 billion per week to the U.S. economy, with the Congressional Budget Office projecting a 1.5 percentage point reduction in annualized GDP growth rate due to the shutdown [9] - The halt in government data releases is complicating the Federal Reserve's ability to address ongoing inflation and rising unemployment [10] Outcomes of the Agreement - The proposed spending bill includes some Democratic wins, such as blocking cuts to international food aid and increasing security budgets for Congress [11] - If passed, the bill will restrict the sale of intoxicating cannabis products, potentially benefiting the beer industry, while the cannabis industry claims this could jeopardize 325,000 jobs [12]

Group 1 - Pro-cannabis law reform advocates are gaining influence in U.S. politics, which is a positive sign for marijuana investors despite the industry's ongoing struggles and frequent net losses among major companies [1] - Marijuana stocks tend to rise with any positive news, as seen with Curaleaf's share price increasing by over 2% following political developments, outperforming the S&P 500 index during that trading session [2] - President Trump has endorsed Florida State Senator Joe Gruters, a proponent of marijuana legalization, for the position of chairman of the Republican National Committee, which could be seen as a positive development for the cannabis industry [3][5] Group 2 - Gruters has actively supported marijuana legalization, including sponsoring a bill for medical cannabis patients to grow their own plants, although this bill was ultimately rejected [4] - While Gruters' potential election as RNC chairman would be a minor victory for cannabis advocates, significant federal changes require the support of influential lawmakers, indicating that more substantial progress is needed [5]