2025 Medical Cannabis Roundup

OG article by Madeline Colli, Erin McEvoy

January 2, 2026

The 2025 medical cannabis landscape featured significant research, regulatory, and clinical progress. Studies highlighted cannabis as a potential alternative to opioids for chronic pain and overdose reduction, though limitations in ecological designs tempered conclusions on mechanisms and legalization effects. Kentucky launched its medical cannabis program on January 1, 2025, targeting opioid reduction and relief for severe pain. A scoping review found U.S. physicians often feel unprepared to advise patients, calling for improved training, guidelines, and curriculum integration. THC-CBD extracts showed cognitive stabilization in Alzheimer’s-linked dementia over six months in a placebo-controlled trial. Regulatory milestones included Texas expanding its Compassionate Use Program via HB 46 (signed June 21, 2025), becoming the 40th state with medical cannabis; nine businesses advanced to license due diligence. Overall, 2025 underscored cannabis's role in addressing opioid crises, highlighted education gaps, demonstrated promise in neurodegeneration, and expanded state-level patient access through new programs. These developments signal growing acceptance and therapeutic potential for medical cannabis amid evolving evidence and policy.