Cannabis Shares Rally on Recommendation for Less Stringent Prohibition

On Aug. 30, shares of the U.S. cannabis multistate operators rallied around 20%, with Canadian licensed producers up less, following news that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommended to the Drug Enforcement Administration that it reclassify cannabis to a Schedule III drug from Schedule I. Cannabis, along with heroin and ecstasy, is currently listed as Schedule I, which means it is considered to have a high potential for abuse and no medical value. Schedule III drugs are considered less dangerous, with a lower potential for abuse and having some medical value. Lower scheduling would not necessarily be a panacea for the cannabis industry, but it could be enough to bring some important benefits to U.S. multistate operators, including paying normal tax rates, improved banking access, and potential listing on a major U.S. stock exchange.