Trump debates on reclassifying marijuana as less dangerous drug, WSJ says
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Aug 10 2025
0mins
Trump's Consideration on Marijuana Reclassification: President Trump is contemplating reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, which could facilitate its purchase and sale.
Impact on Cannabis Companies: This potential change could benefit publicly traded cannabis companies such as Aurora Cannabis, Canopy Growth, and Tilray among others.
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Analyst Views on CRON
Wall Street analysts forecast CRON stock price to fall
2 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 2.770
Low
2.30
Averages
2.72
High
3.14
Current: 2.770
Low
2.30
Averages
2.72
High
3.14
About CRON
Cronos Group Inc. is a global cannabinoid company engaged in building disruptive intellectual property by advancing cannabis research, technology and product development. The Company's diverse international brand portfolio includes Spinach, PEACE NATURALS and Lord Jones. Spinach is a mainstream adult-use cannabis brand with a portfolio that includes cannabinoid products in a wide range of formats, including dried flower, pre-rolls, vaporizers, edibles and tinctures. Lord Jones is a premium adult-use cannabis brand. The Lord Jones brand portfolio includes cannabis products in the pre-roll, vaporizer and edible categories. Lord Jones Ice Water Hash Fusions pre-rolls feature flower and terpene-rich ice water hash and are fitted with a branded ceramic tip. PEACE NATURALS is a global medical brand engaged in producing cannabis products. The Company distributes products under the PEACE NATURALS brand for the Canadian market and the Israeli, German, and United Kingdom medical markets.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Hearing Date Set: The DEA is scheduled to hold a hearing on June 29 to discuss reclassifying marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, which could significantly impact commercial and medical uses across the country.
- Trump Administration Pushes Legislation: The Trump administration is urging Congress to amend the broad ban on hemp-derived products to ensure the legality of CBD products, which is expected to benefit farmers and further fuel market optimism for cannabis stocks.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following this news, shares of Tilray Brands (TLRY) rose nearly 4% in premarket trading, making it the top-trending ticker on Stocktwits, while peers like Canopy Growth (CGC), Aurora Cannabis (ACB), and Cronos (CRON) also saw their stock prices increase.
- Investor Sentiment Shift: On Stocktwits, retail sentiment regarding TLRY shifted from 'bullish' to 'extremely bullish', indicating high expectations for the upcoming DEA hearing, which could potentially alter the sentiment curve in the market.
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- Stock Manipulation Conviction: A Los Angeles jury found Andrew Left guilty on 13 counts of stock manipulation between 2018 and 2023, highlighting the severity of his actions in leveraging social media influence for market manipulation, which could result in millions in fines and restitution.
- Profit Details: Prosecutors revealed that Left earned over $20 million by making bold stock calls on social media while secretly executing opposite trades, raising concerns about market fairness and increasing scrutiny on short sellers from regulators.
- Citron Research's Response: Following the conviction, Citron Research expressed dissatisfaction with the jury's ruling, arguing that the case could deter honest commentary from investors and market analysts, and pledged to continue fighting for free speech, indicating a commitment to ongoing legal battles.
- Impact of GameStop Incident: Left's bearish stance on GameStop in 2021 sparked significant retail trading activity; despite the conviction potentially tarnishing his reputation, he plans to short GameStop again in 2024, demonstrating his ongoing engagement with market dynamics.
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- Verdict Outcome: Andrew Left was found guilty in a Los Angeles trial and faces over 20 years in prison for using social media to manipulate stocks, which threatens to tighten short-selling strategies in the market.
- Economic Impact: Prosecutors indicated that Left earned over $20 million from manipulative trades between 2018 and 2023, and this verdict may lead other short sellers to exercise greater caution, impacting trading behaviors across the industry.
- Industry Reaction: The case has drawn significant attention from short sellers, many of whom fear that it will result in stricter regulations, dampening confidence in short-selling practices and potentially affecting market liquidity.
- Legal Consequences: Left's defense attorney requested a mistrial based on the jury filling out an outdated verdict form, which could influence the final outcome of the case and prolong legal proceedings.
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- International Market Strength: Cronos Group achieved a record net revenue of $45.2 million in Q1 2026, reflecting a 40% year-over-year increase, with significant contributions from international markets, showcasing the company's potential for global expansion and competitiveness.
- Canadian Market Share Gains: The Spinach brand ranked #1 across all vape formats with a 9.8% market share and held an 11.1% share in vape cartridges, indicating the company's leadership position and product popularity in the Canadian market.
- Acquisition Progress: The company expects to complete the acquisition of CanAdelaar in summer 2026, which will position it prominently in Europe's adult-use cannabis market, further enhancing its international business footprint.
- Capital Return Program: Cronos announced a renewed $50 million share repurchase program, coupled with its $822 million cash reserves, demonstrating the company's flexibility in capital allocation and commitment to shareholder returns.
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- Significant Earnings Increase: Cronos Group reported a first-quarter profit of $13.75 million, translating to $0.04 per share, a substantial rise from last year's $6.12 million and $0.02 per share, indicating a marked improvement in the company's profitability.
- Strong Revenue Growth: The company's revenue surged by 40.1% to $45.21 million compared to $32.26 million last year, reflecting robust market demand and the effectiveness of its sales strategies.
- Market Performance Recovery: With both revenue and earnings growth, Cronos Group demonstrates stronger resilience in a competitive market, potentially attracting more investor interest in its future growth prospects.
- Improved Financial Health: The ongoing revenue and profitability enhancements suggest that Cronos Group's financial health is improving, laying a solid foundation for future expansion and investment opportunities.
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- Significant Revenue Growth: In Q1 2026, Cronos Group achieved net revenue of $45.2 million, a 40% year-over-year increase, primarily driven by strong sales in Israel and other countries, highlighting the company's robust growth potential in international markets.
- Improved Gross Margin: The gross profit for Q1 was $19.2 million, reflecting a 39% increase from the previous year, driven by higher average sales prices and increased sales volumes, further solidifying the company's competitive position in the market.
- Leading Market Share: The Spinach® brand captured the #1 position in the Canadian vape market for the first time with a 9.8% market share, while maintaining its top position in edibles, showcasing the strength of its brand portfolio and innovation capabilities.
- Strong Financial Position: As of Q1 2026, Cronos Group reported cash and cash equivalents of $822 million, demonstrating the company's financial strength and flexibility for future investments and expansions.
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