10 important moments in the cannabis industry in 2025

1. President Trump takes executive action to reclassify cannabis at the federal level

President Donald Trump issued an executive order in December instructing the Attorney General to finalize a Biden-era recommendation to change cannabis's classification from a Schedule I controlled substance. Before signing, Trump said that "these facts compel the federal government to recognize that marijuana can be legitimate in terms of medical applications."

However, we must keep in mind that this may benefit patients and veterans, but this is a far cry from the changes needed to modernize federal marijuana policy.

A formal reclassification could still be delayed by judicial reviews and challenges .

2. Republican lawmakers undermine measures approved by voters

In several states, Republican lawmakers took steps to modify or repeal marijuana laws passed by voters.

For example, in Texas the attorney general sued cities like Austin to overturn decriminalization laws, and in Nebraska patients' access to botanical medicinal cannabis was restricted.

At the same time, this was seen as an anti-democratic tactic.

3. Federal statistics show that marijuana use among teenagers continues to decline.

Government-funded data shows that, from 2012 to 2025, marijuana use among high school students has decreased significantly, reaching historically low levels among eighth, tenth, and twelfth grades.

4. Congress passes laws restricting the sale of hemp-derived intoxicants

Federal legislation was passed redefining which hemp products are legal, limiting the permitted THC and criminalizing certain derivative products, such as some with high delta-8 THC content.

At the same time, Trump called for working with Congress to ensure that patients do not lose access to regulated CBD products.

Similarly, in Puerto Rico, a process began to regulate the sale of these types of products in gas stations, smoke shops, among others.

5. Arrests for marijuana continue to decline

State and local law enforcement made nearly 190,000 arrests related to marijuana possession in 2024 , the lowest level in 30 years, though they still account for more than 22% of all drug arrests in the U.S.

6. Trials show sustained benefits of cannabis in patients

Several longitudinal studies published in 2025 demonstrated that cannabis or its extracts provide sustained symptomatic relief for up to 18 months in people with chronic pain, insomnia, fibromyalgia, treatment-resistant epilepsy, and other conditions.

7. November election results could change cannabis markets on the East Coast

The election of Democratic governors in Virginia and New Jersey could lead to an expansion of adult-use cannabis policies in 2026, with promises of regulated markets and improved accessibility.

8. Studies show that access to cannabis reduces alcohol consumption

Several studies have reported that consumers significantly reduce their alcohol consumption after using cannabis, suggesting possible substitution effects.

9. Support for legalization remains high, although it is declining among Republicans.

National polls show that nearly two out of three adults in the U.S. support the legalization of marijuana , although support has declined slightly among Republican voters.

10. The NIH database now includes more than 53,000 cannabis-related studies

For the fifth consecutive year, researchers from around the world published thousands of scientific articles on cannabis, reflecting a growing interest in studying its effects and chemical components.