Cannabis Stocks Soar After Trump Endorses CBD for Seniors, Mentions Medicaid

Markets leapt Monday after former President Donald Trump posted a video promoting the benefits of hemp-derived CBD for older Americans and called for expanded Medicare/Medicaid access to CBD. The move sent pot stocks—and broader investor expectations—into overdrive.

In the nearly three-minute clip, Trump said CBD is a “gamechanger” for pain and stress relief among seniors, and urged physician education and expanded government healthcare coverage. He framed the conversation around delivering real options to older voters, and invoked his 2018 Farm Bill signature as precedent. The video was produced by the pro-cannabis nonprofit Commonwealth Project and released across social media platforms.

The market reaction was immediate: cannabis ETFs, major cultivators, and consumer product companies all posted gains—reflecting how sensitive this sector is to political signaling, even absent concrete policy changes.

Much of today’s rally is speculative: investors are betting on possible future reforms—rescheduling, insurance expansion, or regulatory loosening. But the shift from rhetoric to regulation is rarely seamless. Without statutory changes, Trump’s statements don’t override existing law.

The surging valuations also underscore how narrow the leeway is: many cannabis companies remain unprofitable, struggling under tax burdens, compliance costs, and banking challenges. A policy nudge can spark optimism—but long-term gains depend on structural change, not just headlines.

The cannabis sector is effectively living in the “expectation economy”—moments like Trump’s video shift sentiment, but enduring gains will depend on measurable legislative or administrative follow-through. The most durable winners won’t be juiced by the tweet — they’ll be those who align strategy with policy, compliance, and innovation.

👉 Audience Question:

Was Trump’s CBD video a turning point—or just another headline moment? What concrete reform would you demand now to translate market optimism into sustainable industry change?