This Week In Cannabis: RFK’s HHS Confirmation, Trump’s DEA Bombshell, Earnings, Global News And More
It’s been a whirlwind of a week in cannabis. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services left the industry wondering what his renewed pledge to “follow the science on the harms of marijuana” might mean for broader legalization efforts. Meanwhile, on the other side of the aisle, President Donald Trump tapped Terrance Cole—a long-time “Just Say No” proponent—to lead the DEA, sending mixed signals after Trump’s previous campaign promises.
In an unexpected twist, Trump’s team also secured the release of U.S. citizen Marc Fogel from a Russian prison colony, where he’d been held for having medical marijuana. The industry witnessed both cautious optimism and fresh uncertainty as new appointments, policy shifts and high-profile business moves clashed and combined, shaping the future of legal cannabis in America and beyond.
Politics And Policy
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Confirmed As HHS Secretary
The Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in a narrow 52-48 vote, with Sen. Mitch McConnell as the sole Republican “no.” Kennedy previously touted marijuana legalization on the 2023 campaign trail as a means to address “America’s drug addiction problem.” In a November 2023 interview, he suggested legal weed could help curtail opioid use.
Now, some cannabis advocates are alarmed by his pledge to “follow the science on the harms of marijuana.” He also indicated that, in his new role, he would yield to the DEA’s judgment on any rescheduling efforts. When told Sen. Pete Ricketts was concerned about “preventing the expansion of marijuana,” Kennedy reportedly responded that he would stay true to evidence-based assessments.
Emily Paxhia of Poseidon Investment Management viewed Kennedy’s appointment as a sign of shifting public sentiment around health: “RFK being confirmed demonstrates that the American perspective on ‘health’ is shifting to a less conventional and more exploratory mindset. Cannabis sits squarely in the middle of this shift in the health zeitgeist.”
Jeremy Berke of Cultivated Daily took a broader view, noting how President Donald Trump had likewise seemed pro-reform on the campaign trail, only to cool off on cannabis legalization once in office: “Trump posted in favor of cannabis reform on the campaign trail, but has been quiet ever since. It doesn’t appear to be an issue he wants to expend political capital on within his own party, but we can only hope we’re wrong.”
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Trump Names Longtime ‘Just Say No’ Champion As DEA Chief
Over at the White House, Trump tapped Terrance Cole, a 22-year DEA veteran, to serve as the agency’s new leader. Cole is known for promoting a tough stance on cannabis, often echoing slogans from the 1980s war on drugs. His selection dimmed hopes that a Biden-era rescheduling push could make a comeback.
Trump announced Cole’s appointment on social media, writing, “Together, we will save lives, and MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN.” …