President Donald Trump made waves throughout the cannabis industry on Sunday when he posted a video promoting the benefits of CBD for seniors. The video, produced by The Commonwealth Project, suggested that covering CBD under Medicare would be “the most important senior health initiative of the century,” according to a report from Marijuana Moment.

The video Trump posted to the social media platform Truth Social makes repeated references to “hemp derived CBD.” The post, however, did not contain context from the president to suggest whether the Trump administration will approve a pending proposal to reclassify cannabis under federal drug laws. Nonetheless, the president’s post had a quick impact on the regulated cannabis industry.

The day after Trump posted the video, stock prices in the cannabis sector spiked in Monday trading, according to a report from Cultivated Media. Canadian cannabis and liquor company Tilray jumped 61%, while Trulieve and Rythm were up 25%. Aurora Cannabis was up more than 28%, and Canopy Growth posted a 17% gain.

Cannabis Executives React to Trump’s Post

The video also sparked a flurry of interest from cannabis industry executives, who were quick to point out the potential ramifications of Trump’s post. Steve Reilly, head of government relations at Massachusetts-based multistate cannabis operator Insa, says that “It’s encouraging to see recognition that cannabis delivers medicinal benefits.”

“This is a meaningful step in the right direction for seniors, patients, and the broader healthcare system, as it helps to normalize conversations around cannabis as a legitimate therapeutic option,” he tells IgniteIt. “By highlighting the potential of CBD in particular, there is a real opportunity to advance patient access and begin bridging the gap between traditional healthcare and plant-based medicine.”

Shawn Hauser, partner at cannabis and psychedelics law firm Vincente LLP, says that Trump’s post “was a historic, high-level acknowledgment of cannabis’s medical efficacy and safety–and directly supports the rationale behind the pending DEA rescheduling of marijuana.”

“The video’s focus on the endocannabinoid system, describing it as a foundational system, adds a necessary layer of scientific legitimacy to the discussion that HHS amplified in its 2023 Schedule III recommendation,” Hauser writes in a statement to IgniteIt. “This signals a shift towards science-based public health policy.”

Kim Sanchez Rael, co-founder and CEO of advanced infusions developer Azuca, tells IgniteIt that she joined the cannabis industry because “I am convinced the future of wellness includes cannabinoids.

“What excited me most in the President’s post was the recognition of the urgent need to educate medical practitioners about the Endocannabinoid System, and to unlock the enormous, largely untapped potential of cannabinoid-based products,” Sanchez Rael writes in a statement to IgniteIt. “Seniors are especially savvy here; they know what they need, and we see that in the rapid and wide adoption of cannabinoids among older adults.”

“The real opportunity is bringing the entire inflorescence of the cannabis plant, CBD and far beyond, to consumers in safe, predictable, and understandable forms,” she added. “When we do that, we empower all people to access healthier lives.”

Paula Savchenko, founding partner of Cannacore Group and PS Law Group, says that the “hemp industry has been fighting an uphill battle for years, caught in a patchwork of state laws layered over the 2018 Farm Bill, with the FDA still lacking clear pathways for hemp in dietary supplements or therapeutic use.”

“Bringing hemp-derived products under Medicare coverage would be a turning point,” Savchenko wrote in a statement to IgniteIt. “It would not only ease access for patients, especially seniors who could benefit from safe and affordable alternatives, but it would also create the regulatory consistency this industry has been fighting for. Clear federal standards for testing, labeling, and safety would stabilize the market, support compliant businesses, and most importantly, give patients the confidence and protection they deserve.”

Adam Stettner, CEO of FundCanna, a leading source of capital for the cannabis industry, stated that the policies highlighted in the video would have a significant impact on the cannabis industry, likely leading to an influx of new investment.

“If implemented, the economics could shift overnight with billions in potential healthcare savings and expanded access for seniors, the fastest-growing cannabis demographic,” Stettner tells IgniteIt. “But Medicare alone isn’t enough; 280E taxes, banking limits, and fragmented state rules still punish compliant operators. Markets are surging on the news, and our track record proves the industry is creditworthy when given a fair framework.”

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Read it on IgniteIt: https://www.igniteit.com/news/2025-09-30/cannabis-industry-execs-react-to/