Cannabis Stocks Jump On News That DEA May Soon Undertake Marijuana Reform

News of possible cannabis rescheduling from its onerous position as a Schedule 1 drug on the federal government's Controlled Substance Act has sent sparks into the cannabis community at large as some of the industry's most important weed stocks enjoy a much-needed boost.

What Happened: Doug Kass, world-renowned hedge fund manager, posted on X, formerly Twitter, Friday that the “DEA will approve a rescheduling of cannabis to Schedule III.” 

"We have learned yesterday that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will shortly approve a rescheduling of cannabis to Schedule III," Kass said in part of his first tweet on the subject Friday. He advised selling a gap higher in cannabis stocks as a result of the rumored development.

It is clearly time to get together and talk about all this exciting news, so DO NOT miss the upcoming Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Florida where we will be talking about all things weed including cannabis companies’ valuations, earnings and investment opportunities. Join us at the new Hollywood venue on April 16 and 17, 2024.

Cannabis stocks loved the sound of this news and took a significant upward ride on Friday. Here is here is where they stand at midday:

• Curaleaf Holdings CURLF was up 13.67% selling at $4.63
• Canopy Growth CGC was up 4.69% at $2.90
• Aurora Cannabis ACB up 4.45% at $3.0187
• Urban-gro UGRO up 5.50% to $2.11
• Tilray Brands TLRY is up 2.08% at $1.63 per share
• Green Thumb Industries GTBIF up 6.74% to $12.35 per share
• Village Farms Intl VFF is up 8.04% to $0.7454 per share

So, What Happens If It Happens? At the moment, cannabis remains on Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act alongside heroin and LSD, signifying no accepted medical value and high potential for abuse. Rescheduling would bump it down to Schedule III, placing it among anabolic steroids and Tylenol with codeine. 

What Else? This shift could also translate to lower taxes for cannabis companies that are now burdened by IRS tax code 280E which forbids them from deducting ordinary business expenses. In 2022, cannabis businesses paid $1.8 billion in additional federal taxes, according to market research firm Whitney Economics. For retailers, their tax rates can exceed 70%, the report stated. A change in this area could lead to more competitive prices for consumers.

Meanwhile, AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF MSOS is still chugging up over 8% at $8.38 at the time of this update, mid-morning Friday and issued a stock alert, which investors will want to keep an eye on:

This is an ongoing story so stay tuned!

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