Trump Orders Medical Marijuana Products to Schedule III
Catch up on the top industries and stocks that were impacted, or were predicted to be impacted, by the comments, actions and policies of President Donald Trump with this daily recap compiled by The Fly.MARIJUANA:In accordance with President Trump's December 18, Executive Order on Increasing Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research, the Justice Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration announced the issuance of an order immediately placing both FDA-approved products containing marijuana and marijuana products regulated by a state medical marijuana license in Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, as well as the initiation of an expedited administrative hearing process to consider the broader rescheduling of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. The new hearing, beginning June 29, 2026, will provide a timely and legally compliant pathway to evaluate broader changes to marijuana's status under federal law. Together, these actions provide immediate and long-term clarity to researchers, patients, and providers alike while still maintaining strict federal controls against illicit drug trafficking. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is placing both FDA-approved drug products containing marijuana, and medicinal marijuana products subject to a qualifying state-issued license in Schedule III under his authority to reschedule drugs to carry out the United States' obligations under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. This action recognizes the longstanding regulation of medical marijuana by state governments and the need for a common-sense approach to this reality. "The Department of Justice is delivering on President Trump's promise to expand Americans' access to medical treatment options," said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. "This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information." Publicly traded companies in the space include Aurora Cannabis, CV Sciences, Canopy Growth, Cronos Group, Goodness Growth, Green Thumb Industries, IGC Pharma, Tilray, Trees Corporationand Trulieve Cannabis.STRAIT OF HORMUZ:In a post on Truth Social, President Trump stated, "I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be (Their naval ships are ALL, 159 of them, at the bottom of the sea!), that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. There is to be no hesitation. Additionally, our mine "sweepers" are clearing the Strait right now. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level! Thank you for your attention to this matter."SPIRIT AIRLINES:Members of President Donald Trump's team have vocalized differing views about the administration's plan to save Spirit Airlines,, Brian Schwartz of The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter. Both Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy gave their perspectives on the deal to the president. Lutnick argued this would be seen as a political win by coming to Spirit's rescue months before the midterm elections, people familiar with the matter said. Meanwhile, Duffy argued an agreement with Spirit could have negative political consequences, voicing skepticism about what the government is going to get out of having a stake in the business.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on ACB
About ACB
About the author

- Market Rally: Cannabis stocks surged sharply on Wednesday following reports that the Trump administration is preparing to reclassify marijuana, with Tilray Brands (TLRY) rising about 14%, Canopy Growth (CGC) up roughly 21%, and Curaleaf (CURLF) climbing around 26%, indicating strong market optimism regarding policy changes.
- Industry Leaders' Performance: Curaleaf's robust performance highlights its leadership position in the cannabis sector, and with the potential implementation of reclassification, it is expected to attract more investor attention, further driving up the company's stock price.
- Positive ETF Response: Cannabis-related ETFs, such as AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF (MSOS) and Amplify Alternative Harvest ETF (MJ), also experienced gains, reflecting increased market confidence in the future development of the cannabis industry.
- Quantitative Rating Analysis: Despite the overall rise in cannabis stocks, many companies maintain a “Hold” rating, including Tilray Brands (TLRY) and Aurora Cannabis (ACB), suggesting that the market remains cautious about the long-term outlook for the industry.
- Market Reaction: On Thursday, cannabis stocks retreated after early gains as investors reassessed the limited impact of the U.S. government's move to reclassify FDA-approved and state-licensed marijuana, with Cronos Group (CRON), Aurora Cannabis (ACB), Canopy Growth (CGC), Tilray Brands (TLRY), and OrganiGram Holdings (OGI) seeing declines between 7% and 14%.
- Policy Details: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on social media that FDA-approved marijuana and state-licensed marijuana would be rescheduled from Schedule I to Schedule III, although this measure applies specifically to certain FDA-approved products rather than the broader market, resulting in uneven benefits across the sector.
- Industry Response: FundCanna CEO Adam Stettner noted that medical operators could benefit from clearer federal alignment and potential tax relief, while companies focused on adult-use markets continue to face existing restrictions, including limited access to capital and regulatory fragmentation.
- Market Expectations: Todd Harrison, founding partner at CB1 Capital Management, indicated that while the rescheduling of medical cannabis takes effect immediately, the hearing for adult use is set for June, failing to meet investors' higher expectations and leading to a more pessimistic market sentiment.
- Policy Impact: The U.S. government's decision to place FDA-approved marijuana products and state-licensed medical cannabis programs into Schedule III is expected to facilitate clinical research and broaden treatment access, thereby enhancing the legitimacy of medical cannabis in modern healthcare.
- Tilray's Expansion Plans: Tilray is exploring participation in a federal pilot program run by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, aiming to supply hemp-derived medical cannabis through cancer clinics, which is intended to improve services for underserved patients.
- Market Reaction Volatility: Although Tilray's stock surged by 19% following the policy announcement, it ultimately closed down 12%, reflecting investor concerns over the limited scope of the order, which also negatively impacted other cannabis companies' stock prices.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: Roth Capital Partners views the partial rescheduling order as “extremely favorable,” potentially alleviating Section 280E tax restrictions, improving import and export prospects, and paving the way for eventual adult-use rescheduling, thus enhancing overall sector investability.
- Policy Change Context: The U.S. Department of Justice has formally proposed reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, which, while not legalizing marijuana, reduces regulatory hurdles and offers tax relief for licensed operators, expected to enhance medical research and expand access to treatments.
- Market Reaction: Following the announcement, shares of Tilray (TLRY), Canopy Growth (CGC), Aurora Cannabis (ACB), and IGC Pharma (IGC) fell between 2-5% in morning trading despite previous gains, indicating a cautious market response to the policy change.
- Investor Sentiment: Retail sentiment on Stocktwits for TLRY, CGC, ACB, and IGC turned ‘extremely bullish’ with message volumes surging, reflecting optimistic expectations for the cannabis industry's revival, with some users claiming Tilray will become the “king of the U.S. cannabis market.”
- Akanda Corp. Outperformance: In contrast to major cannabis stocks, Akanda Corp. (AKAN) saw a 6% increase, extending a remarkable 215% surge from the previous session, with investors debating whether this explosive rally is driven by optimism over cannabis reclassification or the stock's low float.
- Stock Price Surge: On Wednesday, Tilray Brands (TLRY) jumped 14%, Canopy Growth (CGC) surged 21%, and Aurora Cannabis (ACB) gained 7%, reflecting market optimism about the anticipated regulatory changes that could improve financing conditions and foster industry growth.
- Regulatory Change Outlook: Currently classified as a Schedule I drug, marijuana's potential reclassification to a lower-risk category would help reduce research barriers and enhance financing access, with expectations that this change will boost overall cannabis stock performance.
- Aurora's Valuation Upside: Consensus estimates from Koyfin indicate that Aurora Cannabis has a 12-month average analyst price target of $5.55, implying a 46% upside from current levels, showcasing strong expectations for improved market sentiment following regulatory changes.
- Diverse Growth Strategies: The three companies are pursuing different growth strategies in global markets, with Tilray focusing on medical distribution and diversification, Canopy Growth strengthening its Canadian operations, and Aurora prioritizing international medical cannabis markets, highlighting their distinct market positioning and strategic differences.
- Reclassification Process: Trump signed an executive order to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, similar to Tylenol with codeine, aimed at recognizing legitimate medical uses and expediting research, expected to take effect on Wednesday.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the announcement, Tilray (TLRY) shares rose 13%, while Aurora Cannabis (ACB), Canopy Growth (CGC), and IGC Pharma Inc (IGC) increased by 10%, 20%, and 6% respectively, with AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF (MSOS) climbing 23%, indicating strong market optimism.
- Recognition of Medical Use: Trump emphasized that the reclassification does not legalize recreational marijuana but aims to accelerate medical research, reflecting government acknowledgment of marijuana's potential medical value, which could drive R&D and market expansion for related companies.
- Investor Sentiment Surge: On Stocktwits, retail sentiment for TLRY and CGC is trending in the 'extremely bullish' territory with high message volume, indicating strong investor confidence in the future of the cannabis industry, with TLRY gaining 70% and CGC 16% over the past 12 months.











