Cannabis Legalization News – Week Ending August 17, 2025
Cannabis policy is shifting fast. Former President Donald Trump suggested marijuana may soon be rescheduled from Schedule I to Schedule III, while Texas lawmakers move aggressively to ban hemp-derived THC. Trucking lobbyists are pushing back, pharmacists are preparing for a new role, and new research highlights vaping dangers.
If you’re an entrepreneur, patient, or advocate, these stories matter. Here’s the week’s top cannabis legalization news.
Trump Says Cannabis Rescheduling Is Coming “In Two Weeks”
During a press appearance, Donald Trump told reporters: “We’re working on it. Two weeks.” For cannabis reform, that could mean a historic shift.
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Rescheduling to Schedule III would acknowledge marijuana’s medical value for the first time since 1970.
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Cannabis businesses would finally escape IRS 280E tax penalties, allowing standard business deductions.
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Researchers could expand clinical studies on cannabis.
However, rescheduling is not legalization. Recreational use would remain federally prohibited, interstate commerce blocked, and no criminal justice reforms included.
For cannabis business owners navigating tax and licensing issues, see how Collateral Base helps entrepreneurs expand into new states.
Texas Senate Passes Bill to Ban Hemp-Derived THC
In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott convened a special session—and lawmakers quickly passed Senate Bill 5, banning hemp-derived THC products statewide. Only CBD and CBG would remain legal.
The bill imposes:
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Harsh penalties including third-degree felonies for selling THC hemp products.
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High fees and product registrations that burden small businesses.
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A limited license model that caps dispensaries at 12–15 statewide.
Ward County DA Sarah Stogner made headlines when she smoked cannabis live on TikTok in protest, captioning it: “Free the plant, Dan”—a direct jab at Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
Read more at The Texas Tribune.
Want to break into the cannabis market despite restrictive state rules? Check out Cannabis Industry Lawyer for guidance on licensing and compliance.
Trucking Industry Opposes Cannabis Rescheduling
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, warning that cannabis rescheduling could compromise drug-testing programs. Their claim: no roadside test for cannabis impairment exists.
This argument overlooks the reality: truckers already face zero-tolerance drug testing, even for off-duty use. Critics argue this unfairly punishes workers and blocks access to safer alternatives to opioids.
Read the full story at Marijuana Moment.
Pharmacists Prepare for Cannabis Rescheduling
Industry experts predict pharmacists will become frontline cannabis providers if rescheduling proceeds. Two pathways are being considered:
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FDA Clinical Trials – A decade-long process dominated by Big Pharma.
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Pharmacist Dispensation via DEA Rule – A faster system requiring training and standardized products.
This raises critical questions: Will cannabis become controlled by billion-dollar corporations, or remain accessible through dispensaries and local operators?
Read the analysis on Drug Topics.
UC Merced Study Finds Vaping Creates Harmful Chemical
New research from UC Merced shows that vaping liquids produce methylglyoxal (MGO), a chemical that damages DNA and proteins, leading to cell death.
For years, vaping has been marketed as safer than smoking. This study challenges that claim and will likely fuel new regulatory debates.
Read the study summary at UC Merced News.
Conclusion: A Pivotal Moment in Cannabis Legalization
From Trump’s rescheduling tease to Texas’s THC ban, trucking lobby fearmongering, and Big Pharma’s interest in cannabis, it’s clear: the legalization battle is entering a new phase.
For entrepreneurs, rescheduling means new opportunities—but also new compliance burdens. For prohibitionists, the cracks in federal policy are widening. And for advocates, the mission is the same: keep pushing until cannabis is legal for all.
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