Trump Defies GOP on Cannabis Rescheduling as Industry Momentum Builds

The much-praised move to loosen federal marijuana rules is putting President Donald Trump at odds with GOP lawmakers.

Trump’s push to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under a December 2025 executive order, a process initiated by the Biden administration, would ease research restrictions and eliminate punitive taxes on cannabis companies.

However, dozens of GOP lawmakers reached out to Trump via letters warning that rescheduling would harm public health, empower cartels, endanger children and contradict “law-and-order” values.

Sen. Rick Scott told Marijuana Moment, cannabis is a “gateway drug,” even though he acknowledged the plant’s medical use.

Some politicians draw even tighter lines.

“This president will go down as the most pro-marijuana president,” said Kevin Sabet, a former drug policy adviser to presidents and an American drug policy scholar, as reported by Politico. “He’s not listening to the vast majority of his advisers. He’s not listening to the vast, vast majority of GOP legislators.”

Nevertheless, Trump is defying the GOP’s traditional anti-drug wing as he is siding with public opinion, arguing that cannabis can reduce reliance on opioid painkillers and help patients with serious conditions.

Cannabis Industry Enters Pivotal Regulatory Phase, Momentum Builds In Early 2026

The cannabis industry is riding this momentum, entering a pivotal regulatory phase where scale, distribution, and operational strength will define the next winners.

2026 kicked off strong with one of the most significant cannabis M&A transactions in recent months. Wyld has announced the acquisition of women-led brand Grön. The deal is expected to unite two of the most acclaimed and successful edibles brands in North America. The transaction, which is pending regulatory approvals and is expected to wrap up in Q1 2026.

Next up, cannabis wholesale platform Nabis has acquired select assets of Humble Cannabis Solutions, which operates across California. Nabis said on Tuesday that the move expands its footprint and capacity across key NorCal, Central Coast, and SoCal regions.

The deal adds roughly $13 million in assets to Nabis’ balance sheet, while generating approximately $20 million in gross sales. The transaction includes a $4 million strategic capital investment from Humble Cannabis Solutions, $4 million in distribution assets to be integrated into Nabis’ California operations, and $5 million in debt financing to support the company’s growth.

Medical cannabis company with operations in Israel and Germany, IM Cannabis Corp. (NASDAQ: IMCC) wrapped up 2025 with hints it’s exploring ways to enter the U.S. cannabis market, encouraged by Trump’s December 2025 executive order to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III at the federal level. To that end, the company hired SSC Advisors to advise on U.S. expansion options and appointed Alon Dayan, CEO of KeepZone AI Inc, to serve on its board of directors.

In the meantime, medical cannabis patients in West Virginia will have more access to the plant as Harvest Care Medical announced the opening of two new dispensaries in Morgantown and Parkersburg. The move brought Harvest Care Medical’s footprint in the state to 10 dispensaries, all branded as Country Grown Cannabis.

Tilray Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) (TSX: TLRY) bolstered its Dry January lineup now featuring Sparkling THC cocktails, THC seltzers, premium zero-proof spirits and performance-inspired non-alcoholic beer, to name a few.