Medical Marijuana Takes A 'Back Seat' As Adult-Use Legalization Gains Momentum

As the cannabis industry evolves, the conversation surrounding medical marijuana appears to be shifting to the background. Once central to cannabis reform, medical marijuana now seems to receive less focus compared to adult-use legalization in policy discussions.

With new state and federal regulations on the horizon, this shift raises concerns about how medical marijuana fits into the broader cannabis landscape.

Debra Borchardt, the executive editor and co-founder of Green Market Report, shared her perspective on the diminishing attention given to medical marijuana ahead of her appearance at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Chicago this October.

Medical Marijuana Pushed Aside

According to Borchardt, the current lack of attention toward medical marijuana may be tied to the absence of robust FDA-approved clinical trials. "Medical marijuana will likely stay in the back seat now. Until there are actual FDA-approved Phase 3 studies like we saw with Epidiolex, the group won't get the attention that it used to receive," she said. The absence of new, large-scale studies has slowed the momentum for medical cannabis, allowing adult-use legalization to dominate the conversation.

Borchardt also noted a troubling development that could further push medical marijuana out of the spotlight—hemp bans potentially targeting CBD-rich medical products. "There is also some troubling news that medical marijuana, which is typically high-dose CBD type products with light THC, are getting caught up in the hemp bans," she said. This overlap between hemp restrictions and medical cannabis could leave patients without access to the products they depend on, especially since few adult-use cannabis companies are producing similar alternatives.

Regulatory Concerns and Future Implications

If medical marijuana continues to be sidelined, the impact on patients could be considerable, Borchardt warns. "If that happens, those patients will be dramatically impacted, and few adult-use cannabis companies are creating these products. That is very concerning," she said.

Looking ahead, Borchardt sees adult-use cannabis legislation continuing to drive policy changes. However, she expressed concern that without dedicated attention to medical marijuana, critical issues for patients may go unaddressed. Whether future regulatory frameworks will carve out space for medical cannabis alongside the expanding adult-use market remains an open question.

As policymakers and industry leaders discuss the future of cannabis regulation, Borchardt’s insights underscore the importance of balancing medical and recreational needs. Her appearance at the upcoming Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference will likely delve deeper into these challenges, offering a platform to explore potential solutions for the industry.

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• ‘Get Ready For A Nationwide Game Of Whack-A-Mole’: What California’s Hemp Ban Means For The Industry

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