Key Takeaways
- FDA announced it will not pursue enforcement action against certain hemp-derived CBD oral products
- The cannabis sector ETF jumped 16% this week, marking its strongest performance of 2026
- Leading cannabis companies Tilray, Canopy Growth, and Curaleaf experienced significant Thursday rallies
- The announcement follows President Trump’s executive action rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III in December
- Industry experts caution the policy shift is limited in scope and lacks comprehensive regulatory structure
Major cannabis stocks delivered their most impressive weekly performance of the year following the FDA’s announcement of relaxed CBD enforcement measures. The regulatory shift propelled several prominent marijuana companies significantly higher, positioning the sector for its strongest week since last December.
In a Wednesday letter, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary indicated the agency would refrain from enforcing specific provisions within the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act against oral hemp-derived products solely due to their CBD content. This enforcement discretion extends to items marketed as dietary supplements and products administered under physician supervision.
CBD, a non-intoxicating cannabinoid present in cannabis plants, serves various health and wellness applications and appears in numerous consumer products.
The cannabis sector’s upward momentum actually commenced Tuesday, preceding the White House and FDA’s launch of four scheduled meetings with industry representatives to address CBD compliance and enforcement strategies.
This latest FDA position reinforces President Trump’s December executive directive, which reclassified marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III classification under federal drug regulations. That same order tasked the FDA, National Institutes of Health, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services with creating pathways to broaden CBD access for medicinal applications.
Cannabis equities experienced a temporary spike following December’s executive order before retreating. The industry continues grappling with challenges related to banking services, exchange listings, and cross-state commerce stemming from federal regulatory constraints.
Tilray Brands
Tilray emerged as a leading gainer during the week. The stock advanced 6.7% in Thursday’s session alone and ranked among the sector’s highest by dollar volume traded. The enterprise focuses on researching, cultivating, processing, and distributing medical marijuana throughout various nations, including Canada, Germany, Australia, and Argentina.
Canopy Growth
Canopy Growth climbed 2.6% during Thursday’s trading. The corporation markets cannabis and hemp offerings for both recreational consumers and medical patients across the US, Canada, Germany, and additional global territories. Its operations include the Storz and Bickel division, which manufactures cannabis vaporization devices. Canopy was identified alongside Tilray as among the week’s most actively traded marijuana stocks.
Canopy Growth Corporation, CGC
Curaleaf Holdings
Curaleaf delivered the most robust performance among major cannabis names Thursday, surging 8.4%. The domestically-focused cannabis operator has attracted considerable investor attention as market participants monitor federal policy developments that might enable interstate cannabis commerce.
The AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis exchange-traded fund advanced 4.6% Thursday and climbed 16% across the week, tracking toward its strongest weekly showing since December.
An industry expert observed that the policy remains “narrowly scoped” and falls short of establishing a durable framework for the wider cannabis marketplace, urging Congressional intervention for additional progress.
The FDA conducted its initial stakeholder discussion on CBD policy Wednesday, with three additional sessions planned in the ongoing series.
