The Reclassification Reality Check: A Year Later, Where We Stand

The Promise vs. The Reality

Currently, cannabis sits on Schedule I, right next to heroin and LSD, classified as having “no accepted medical use” and “high potential for abuse.” Moving to Schedule III would put cannabis alongside medications like ketamine and anabolic steroids; substances with accepted medical uses but still controlled.

This shift wouldn’t legalize cannabis federally or make it available in every state. What it would do is huge for businesses: allow normal tax deductions- end the 280E tax burden, potentially ease banking restrictions, and open doors for more research. For many cannabis businesses, especially those paying crushing tax rates, reclassification could mean the difference between survival and closure.

The tour took me through 11 states and D.C., visiting hemp farms and USDA Agriculture Offices, cultivation facilities throughout the region, dispensaries, and an all-inclusive canna bnb. Each stop revealed a different perspective on what reclassification could mean and what obstacles still stand in the way.

Voices from the Road: What Businesses Really Think

The cannabis industry experienced another wave of reclassification excitement. Under the current administration, fresh discussions emerged about moving cannabis to Schedule III, creating that familiar surge of optimism across social media, industry publications, and cannabis conferences. But as quickly as the conversation heated up, it cooled down. Today, just weeks later, the reclassification chatter has faded back to background noise. It’s the same cycle we’ve seen before: hope, buzz, speculation, then… silence.

I reached back out to some of those same business owners to get their take on this most recent reclassification cycle, and the silence that followed:

“At this point, I believe reclassification discussions are purely political theater. The reality is that policymakers aren’t genuinely prioritizing social equity programs or supporting legacy operators who built this industry. They’re not treating cannabis as the legitimate medicine it is for patients who depend on it. Instead, decisions seem driven by political agendas and financial considerations rather than what’s best for the industry or the communities we serve. I was never overly optimistic about federal action, but this latest cycle has completely eroded whatever faith I had left in the process.” – Linda Solana, President, CannaVibes

“At this point, I’m not too optimistic that reclassification will actually happen, but I’ll be glad if it does. For me, it’s business as usual—I can’t afford to sit around waiting in Washington to get it right. If it comes, I’ll take it as icing on the cake and welcome the benefits, but in the meantime, I’m focused on building my business and serving the community every day.” – Tahir Johnson, CEO, Simply Pure Trenton

“I am a small hemp grower with the focus on acclimating a variety for Florida climate as well as a medical cannabis patient in FL. I have “high” hopes that one day this God given plant will be descheduled and we can all have the right to grow and consume her as a medicine and food. I fear that rescheduling cannabis could be set up to take away current programs and may give the pharmaceutical companies all the control. Even though rescheduling appears to be a step in the right direction it could be a trojan horse.” – James Bender Owner & Grower at Benders Blooms.

“I’m somewhere between hopeful and over it. The cycles of cannabis policy ‘reform’ keep stirring excitement without material progress, leaving patients, providers, and entire systems trapped in a shadow space where evidence is ignored and care is compromised. From a clinical and equity perspective, every delay deepens the harm. Reclassification is long overdue because healthcare needs it, and decriminalization is long overdue because humanity needs it. Communities continue to carry the weight of outdated policies, and the cost of delay is measured in lives, health, and justice. The science, lived experience, and patient outcomes are undeniable—but the political theater has worn thin. My stance is clear: the longer we wait, the greater the harm.” – Drudys Ledbetter, Founder & Principal, MAC Vernet Consulting

At Zenbarn Farms / VPA, our focus is on honing our operations, delivering excellence in quality, efficiency, and community impact so we can succeed in the current regulatory and tax environment. We’re not holding our breath waiting on rescheduling or any other policy change. That said, access to normal banking, tax relief, and lower-cost services would absolutely make a big difference for operators like us. But we also recognize the risks. If rescheduling moves forward without the right safeguards, it could create an uneven playing field where only large corporations thrive.” – Noah Fishman, Co-Owner Zenbarn Farms / Vermont Patients Alliance.

Moving Forward Without Waiting Around

The truth about cannabis reclassification is that it’s going to happen when it happens, not on our timeline, not on industry’s timeline, but on the slow-moving timeline of federal bureaucracy. That doesn’t mean we sit around waiting.

I learned traveling those 2,000+ miles that the industry isn’t waiting around for federal action. Every business I visited was adapting, innovating, and building sustainable operations regardless of Schedule III. They’ve learned to thrive within current constraints because they have to.

A year later, we’re still having the same conversations about reclassification, with less excitement and more realism. The cannabis industry has always been about patience, persistence, and adaptation. Reclassification will happen eventually, but in the meantime, the work continues.

The businesses I visited are proof that cannabis can thrive even in an uncertain regulatory environment, they just have to be smarter, more creative, and more resilient than everyone else. And honestly, after more than 6 years of traveling this industry, I’ve learned that the people of cannabis always have been.

Veronica Castillo, known as Vee the Traveling Cannabis Writer, has spent over six years journeying across the United States documenting cannabis communities, cultures, and the economic impact of cannabis tourism. She is the author of “Cannabis Legacy Chronicles Series: The Traveling Cannabis Writer’s Guide to America’s Hidden Gems ,” chronicling six years of documenting resilience, challenges, and inspiration across legal cannabis markets. She has a background bridging professional business insights and creative storytelling, offering a unique perspective on how cannabis tourism drives local economic development.