With over 55 million cannabis fans in America, 2025 was a year of big wins and stinging losses. From headway in the hash world and LA’s indoor farms to High Times’ resurgence and landmark findings in the scientific world, the ganja news came like a firehose in 2025, and here’s a distillation of the top items.
Schedule III, finally
Rescheduling screen grab, Courtesy of The White House.
Cannabis supporters spent much of 2025 waiting for the federal government to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I (the “most dangerous” list) to Schedule III (think: Tylenol with codeine). That process finally began on December 18, when President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to complete the rescheduling. It’s not legalization, but it’s something.
High Times re-lit
2025 was the year that RAW Rolling Papers creator Josh Kesselman turned the lights back on at the venerable counterculture institution, High Times.
Helmed by Javier Hasse, High Times released a 50th anniversary special edition featuring archival work from icons such as Hunter S. Thompson and interviews with legends like Bob Marley, as well as a slew of fresh content from around the globe.
Plus, they restarted their Cannabis Cups.
Hemp recriminalization
The year 2025 goes down in U.S. history books as a setback for “intoxicating” hemp. Congress ended the longest government shutdown in U.S. history — 43 days — with a bill that also re-criminalized cannabis seeds and pretty much any hemp product that could get you high. Unless it’s actual rope, the government considers it dope once again.
Zangbanger’s moment to shine
Zangbanger (sherbanger 22 x zangria) #53 bred and selected in house. This is by far the most unique strain we currently have in our line up. Who’s tried it and what do you think? pic.twitter.com/tuGTbZM6TS— Wizard Trees (@wizard_trees) January 28, 2025
Author: David Downs / High Times
