It is not all doom and gloom for the cannabis industry this year; positive developments across states and the potential (albeit remote) for federal rescheduling means the cannabis industry can expect ongoing advancements.
1. The Potential Rescheduling of Cannabis Persists
Arguably the most significant development on the horizon for the cannabis industry again this year is the possibility of rescheduling marijuana (non-hemp cannabis) under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Last August, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced plans to hold an administrative hearing on its proposal to move marijuana from Schedule I of the CSA, the most restrictive category, to Schedule III. The hearing, originally scheduled for December 2, 2024, was pushed back to January 21 after Chief Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney ruled that the DEA erred in its presentation of witnesses. On January 13, Judge Mulrooney postponed the highly anticipated hearing (discussed in our previous alert) for at least three more months pending resolution of an appeal following allegations of improper conduct by the DEA.
Source: https://www.afslaw.com/perspectives/alerts/top-10-issues-the-cannabis-industry-2025