For the U.S. cannabis industry, this past year underwent some key changes, from the good to the bad to somewhere in between. Oversaturation, price compression and failed cannabis legislation rippled across many states, and M&A activity ticked up as price compression and oversupply trends hurt the bottom lines of some cannabis businesses.
Some bright moments peered through the clouds, though. Several cannabis leaders from throughout North America shared how 2025 saw more mainstream acceptance of cannabis, and convenient formats, such as pre-rolls, surged across their product line.
But what stood out to many leaders CBT spoke to was the executive order signed Dec. 18 by President Trump signing an executive to expedite his administration to reclassify cannabis to a Schedule III drug. “That is a game changer,” said one executive.
While 2025 had its share of challenges, the year ahead has room for the cannabis industry to mature, these industry specialists shared.
Here are key 2025 takeaways and 2026 goals and predictions from:
· LeVar Thomas, co-CEO and co-founder, Silly Nice
· Robert Groesbeck, co-CEO, Planet 13
· Robin Goldstein, Ph.D., director of the Cannabis Economics Group, an economist in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of California, Davis, and co-author of “Can Legal Weed Win?: The Blunt Realities of Cannabis Economics”
· Megan McCrae, senior vice president, Corporate Strategy & International Growth, Organigram Global
· George Archos, founder, Chairman and CEO, Verano
LeVar Thomas, co-CEO and co-founder of Silly Nice: Operating since 2024 out of Harlem, New York, the Black- and Veteran-owned craft producer serves dispensaries across New York state.
2025 takeaways:
“The past year was about proving ourselves, learning fast, and earning trust the hard way in a very competitive market. What stood out most was seeing repeat customers seek us out by name, which told us the work and the care we put into each batch really mattered.
Smaller brands that survived stayed disciplined about spending. We didn’t chase every industry event or trend. We focused on educating customers, supporting dispensaries with real marketing, and making sure the product spoke for itself. That focus kept us lean and effective.
Read more at Cannabis Business Times
