Part III—Trump, Rescheduling & The Great Cannabis Unraveling: Chaos, Re- Or De-Scheduling, & What Comes After

OG Article By Robert Hoban.

September 29 2025

The Transition

Cannabis policy shifts loom.Rescheduling or de-scheduling will disrupt.Expect friction, litigation, and gaps.

Rescheduling: Controlled Chaos

Moves cannabis to Schedule III.Adds FDA/DEA oversight.Medical legitimacy opens markets.But state systems clash with federal rules.Adult-use products face scrutiny.Compliance costs soar.Interstate commerce remains uncertain.

De-Scheduling: Wild Frontier

Removes cannabis from Controlled Substances Act.States lead regulation.No federal pharmaceutical burden.Interstate trade potential grows.Smaller operators gain flexibility.But state rules fragment.Weak oversight risks safety.Banks hesitate without federal clarity.

Federal Oversight Shift

De-scheduling may involve TTB.Focus on taxes, labeling, trade.States handle licensing, safety.Dual oversight adds complexity.

Cannabinoids as Ingredients

Cannabis is a plant, not just THC.Over 100 cannabinoids exist.De-schedule the plant, schedule compounds.Aligns with science, markets.

Surviving the Shift

Phase I: Prepare

• Align with federal benchmarks.

• Build audit systems.

• Model regulatory risks.

• Prune uncertain products.

• Partner with compliance platforms.

Phase II: Adapt

• Invest in stable jurisdictions.

• Ready legal defenses.

• Maintain liquidity, flexible products.

• Negotiate interstate trade rules.

• Balance low-risk and high-margin offerings.

Phase III: Lead

• Scale compliant operations.

• Shape national standards.

• Diversify supply chains.

• Exploit favorable regulations.

• Plan exits with compliance proof.

The Future

De-scheduling frees states, sparks trade.Rescheduling traps cannabis in medical rules.Winners build trust, compliance, scale.Cannabinoids are ingredients.Regulation shapes the market.Chaos tests resilience.Trust platforms define success.