Blog

Marijuana stocks rose after months of declines after news that President Biden on Oct. 6 pardoned thousands of individuals convicted of simple possession of marijuana.
Both the sector as a whole and major names like Canopy Growth Corp. (CGC) rose rapidly on the news. The move clears every person convicted on federal charges of simple possession since the 1970s. The exact number of individuals affected by the sweeping pardon is unclear, but roughly 6,500 people were federally convicted of simple possession between 1992 and 2021.
The Biden administration’s action represents a shift in governmental response to marijuana possession at a time when the legality of the drug is hotly debated. Although marijuana use remains illegal at the federal level, 37 states now permit its use in some form.
An exchange-traded fund (ETF) representing the broader legal cannabis industry—the ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF (MJ)—spiked following the announcement from the White House. It surged by more than 26% on Oct. 6, although as of this writing on Oct. 7, it has since dropped to about a 12% on the week. This comes after having badly trailed the market for months MJ has badly trailed the broader market in the past year, providing a one-year trailing total return of -62.9% compared with -16.7% for the S&P 500.
Big names in the sector such as Canopy Growth and Aurora Cannabis Inc. (ACB) both rose substantially, but gave up far more of their gains than the sector at large. CGC has provided a one-year trailing total return of -78.3% as of Oct. 7, behind both the S&P 500 and MJ. Aurora lagged still more, returning -84.5% over the same period.
President Biden stated that the pardon applies to "all current United States citizens and lawful permanent residents who committed" or "who have been convicted" of the offense of simple possession. In an accompanying statement, also issued on Oct. 6, Biden announced that he would urge all state governors to similarly pardon all prior state-level marijuana possession convictions. Finally, and perhaps most critically for the future of the legality of marijuana at the federal level, Biden announced that the secretary of Health and Human Services and the attorney general would review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law. Biden added that changes to the legality of marijuana possession and use should not impact restrictions on trafficking, marketing, and under-age sales.
Marijuana is currently classified under federal law in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule I is intended for the most dangerous substances and also includes drugs such as LSD and heroin.
President Biden pardoned anyone who has committed or been convicted of simple possession of marijuana at the federal level on Oct. 6. He also urged state governors to do the same on a state level and announced plans to have the scheduling of marijuana reexamined. While this doesn't affect the legality of marijuana on a federal level today, it could indicate future changes. It remains to be seen if this is a turning point for marijuana stocks or just a temporary bump.
The White House. "A Proclamation on Granting Pardon for the Offense of Simple Possession of Marijuana."
New York Times. "Biden Pardons Thousands Convicted of Marijuana Possession Under Federal Law."
National Conference of State Legislatures. “State Medical Cannabis Laws.”
TradingView. "Price Chart: MJ and S&P 500."
YCharts.com "YCharts."
The White House. "Statement From President Biden on Marijuana Reform."
Government & Policy
Marijuana Investing
Stocks & Bond News
ETF News
Stocks & Bond News
Marijuana Investing
When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site.

source