Cannabis in 2025: Where We Stand (and What’s Next)

The Legal Landscape - Where We're At

Here’s the quick version: the U.S. map is looking greener than ever.

Recreational cannabis is now legal in 24 states plus D.C. — from California and Colorado to newcomers like Ohio, which officially joined the adult-use club after its 2023 vote kicked in last year. States like Florida came close but didn’t cross the finish line in 2024.

Medical cannabis is legal in nearly 40 states, with Nebraska finally joining the list last year. That means the majority of Americans now live somewhere cannabis is legal in some form.

Hemp, which is cannabis with less than 0.3% THC, remains federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill. It’s why CBD and delta-8 products are still floating around, even if state rules vary.

That said, a handful of states still haven’t budged. They might allow limited CBD oils or none at all — so if you’re traveling, check the local laws before you pack your stash.

Federal Rescheduling Update

The biggest federal cannabis policy story heading into 2026 is the December 18, 2025 executive order signed by President Donald Trump directing the U.S. Attorney General to complete the process of rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the federal Controlled Substances Act.

Cannabis has long been classified as a Schedule I drug — meaning it was officially considered to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. The move toward Schedule III signals that the federal government now recognizes medical value and intends to treat cannabis more like other prescription medicines with lower abuse potential.

Important caveats:

• The executive order does not itself reschedule cannabis — it simply orders federal agencies to finish the formal rule making process.

Why this matters

If and when cannabis officially becomes a Schedule III substance, it would:

• Acknowledge medical use at the federal level.

• Lower some criminal penalties compared to Schedule I.

• Make federal research easier, reducing barriers that currently exist for cannabis studies.

• Potentially ease the tax burden under IRC Section 280E by allowing normal business deductions once rescheduled.

Even with these changes, full federal legalization — especially for recreational use — still requires further regulatory action or legislation.

Other Big Moves You Might’ve Missed

While everyone was watching the DEA, a few other important things happened:

• Maryland became one of the first states to issue mass pardons for low-level cannabis convictions — a big deal for criminal justice reform.

• New York is still ironing out its rollout, but courts recently struck down a few overreaching local bans, giving legal businesses some breathing room.

• In Congress, a group of House Democrats reintroduced the MORE Act, which would federally legalize cannabis altogether (though it’s facing an uphill battle).

• And some Republicans are trying to block funding for any rescheduling efforts — so, yes, it’s still politics as usual.

Bottom line: the federal conversation is heating up, but don’t expect a full-blown legalization bill to pass tomorrow. The process is slow, messy, and driven by headlines more than deadlines.

What’s Next (and Why It Matters)

If you care about where this all goes — whether you’re a consumer, grower, or just someone who loves a good piece of glass — here’s what to keep an eye on in 2025:

1. Rescheduling’s Ripple Effects

If cannabis officially moves to Schedule III, we’ll see changes in how doctors prescribe it, how companies handle taxes, and how research is done. It won’t open dispensaries nationwide, but it could make things smoother for medical and business operations.

2. The Push for Banking Access

The dreaded “cash-only” problem might finally ease up. Banking reform is gaining bipartisan support, and that would make life safer for dispensaries and more transparent for everyone.

3. State Ballots to Watch (2025 – 2026)

Several states are gearing up for big legalization pushes:

• Florida: After narrowly missing in 2024, a new adult-use legalization measure is already being rewritten for the 2026 ballot. It would legalize recreational cannabis for adults 21 and over, allow limited home grows, and expand licensed dispensaries statewide.

• Pennsylvania: Lawmakers are drafting a bipartisan legalization bill that could either hit the legislature in 2025 or move toward a 2026 vote.

• North Carolina: Medical cannabis is the main focus here, with a strong push to legalize it by 2026 — possibly paving the way for recreational down the line.

If even a few of these pass, 2026 could be another landmark year for expanding legal access across the U.S.

What It Means for You (and Us)

All these legal shifts directly impact how the industry grows — and how you get access to better, safer products.

At Freeze Pipe, we’ve built everything around that mission:

• Designing smarter, higher-quality pieces for smoother sessions

• Adapting to legal gray zones with transparency and integrity

• Keeping customer experience front and center — because we owe everything to the supporters who make this brand what it is

For you, all this change means better access, higher quality products, and a future where cannabis is treated with the respect it deserves.

For us, it’s fuel — a reason to keep innovating, improving, and creating glass that lives up to the passion of the people who use it. 

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