Are The Illicit Market, Curaleaf And Trulieve The 3 Biggest Winners From Rescheduling Cannabis?
This article was originally published on Cannabis.net and appears here with permission.
President Joe Biden’s support of the administration’s decision to reschedule cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III is likely to result in considerable financial benefits for large, legal cannabis businesses and the illicit market. This action may lessen the restrictions imposed by IRS tax regulation 280E, which has banned cannabis businesses from deducting standard business expenditures. Which cannabis firms will gain the most from this change?
The illicit market will get a huge boost by removing the punshiments associated with getting caught dealing or transporting a Schedule 1 drug. Now that the fines, prison sentences, and desire to enforce Schedule 3 crimes is lessened, look for the illicit market to boom across America. It is estimated that the illegal cannabis market is 3x the size of the legal US market as of 2024, so look for that multiple to expand if Schedule 3 is enacted. Removing a negative incentive in economics always leads to predictable action.
In the legal market, the largest MSOS, or those that paid the most taxes, have the most to gain by a repeal of the 280E tax code and future tax credits or refunds coming their way
Industry Leaders in Tax Payments
Rescheduling cannabis will abolish the onerous 280E tax law, potentially freeing up more than a billion dollars in tax savings for the business. Curaleaf (OTC: CURLF) and Trulieve (OTC: TCNNF), both of which make considerable tax payments, are among the firms most likely to profit. Repealing 280E limits would allow these businesses to deduct typical business costs, greatly improving their financial situation.
Truelive alone stands to get $113,000,000 in tax refunds and savings!
Senior analyst Pablo Zuanic of Zuanic & Associates believes that these tax reductions may result in improved cash flows, allowing these businesses to reinvest in development and growth. In the quickly changing cannabis market, having this kind of financial flexibility is essential for keeping a competitive advantage and encouraging creativity.
Zuanic has consistently highlighted the disparity between current market valuations and the potential upside, particularly if federal legalization occurs. He emphasizes that …