Trump Tariffs Hit Weed Prices, VA Seeks Cannabis Clarity, 4/20 Meets Easter

Plus, does weed mess with sperm?

April 04, 2025

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Hi Benzinga Cannabis friends, Maureen Meehan here, reporting for duty with your freshest cannabis headlines. Grab your coffee because we’ve got a jam-packed lineup — from the VA finally asking the right questions about weed and PTSD, to Elon Musk catching heat from lawmakers and Ohio’s green wave getting even bigger. Oh, and mark your calendars: Easter and 4/20 are about to share a Sunday. Wild.

Let’s jump in. 👇

🏛️ Politics, Policy & All That Jazz

Finally, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is digging into what cannabis actually does for veterans. In a new notice, the VA is looking for contractors to break down the science of medical marijuana — both the good (like helping with PTSD) and the tricky (like cannabis use disorder and pregnancy risks).

Here’s a stat that stopped me in my tracks: Of the 9% of veterans who used cannabis in the past year, about 40% said they did so for medical reasons. The challenge? VA docs often won’t even touch the topic.

Maybe this is a step toward better conversations — and better care — for those who served. 👏

Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) just dropped a bill that’s basically aimed squarely at Elon Musk. She wants drug testing for “special government employees,” citing Musk’s “well-documented history of drug use” and his access to highly sensitive federal info.

“Donald Trump has given billionaire Elon Musk the keys to our government,” she said, adding that folks with access to secret data need to be “clear-eyed and exercise good judgment.”

No word yet on whether Elon’s responded, but this story’s got major sci-fi-meets-DC energy.

Well, this one’s a bummer. Marijuana rescheduling? Not even on President Donald Trump’s radar for his second-term drug policy priorities. The focus, per the Office of National Drug Control Policy, is squarely on opioids and trafficking.

While the Biden-era rescheduling process is still stalled out, Trump’s silence on the issue isn’t exactly reassuring for advocates hoping for reform. For now, cannabis remains in limbo. 🌀

New York's going full pro — launching a mandatory training program for cannabis industry workers. Under state rules, all employees must complete the “Responsible Workforce Training Program” within 30 days of starting.

Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, summed it up: “We can’t have a successful cannabis industry without investing in its workforce.”

Big step toward safety and legit infrastructure in the Empire State’s green economy.

💸 Markets & Business Buzz

Cannabis consumers, brace yourselves. New tariffs from President Trump are about to make your stash more expensive. A lot of cannabis accessories — from vapes to specialized glass — come from Asia, and the latest round of levies is hitting hard.

As a result, Tilray Brands (NASDAQ: TLRY), Canopy Growth (NASDAQ: CGC), Organigram (NASDAQ: OGI), and TerrAscend (OTCQX: TRSSF) all saw share prices fall between 5% and 10%. Companies say they’ll have to pass the added costs onto consumers — and that could send more people back to the illicit market. 🔁

🌱 State of the States

Ohio is going all in. The Division of Cannabis Control says over 100 new dispensaries will open in 2025, joining the 124 already serving up green across the state.

Pete Nischt from Klutch Cannabis in Akron had some wisdom to share: “We fight the general idea that THC potency is everything.” He wants to educate newcomers that there’s more to great cannabis than just chasing the highest numbers.

Quality > quantity, folks. Or in this case, terps > THC. 🎯

🧬 Science & Health

Your Weed Habit May Be Messing With Your Sperm 🧫🧬

If you’re trying to start a family, you might want to check your weed intake. A new report confirms what researchers have long suspected: cannabis can mess with male fertility.

We're talking warped sperm shape, slower swimmers, and even altered genetic material. The science isn’t brand new — but the clarity is. And it’s hitting mainstream medical circles in a big way.

🎉 Culture & Calendar

Easter Sunday, 4/20 Will Fall On The Same Day This Year 🐣🔥

Mark your calendars, folks: Easter Sunday and 4/20 are crashing into each other this year. That’s right — Sunday, April 20 is both the holiest of cannabis holidays and a major religious celebration.

It’s happened before — in 2003 and 2014 — and it won’t happen again until 2087. Expect some...let’s say...creative brunch pairings this year. Deviled eggs and dabs, anyone?

That’s a wrap for today’s Cannabis Daily — thanks for lighting up your inbox with me today. Stay elevated, stay informed and we’ll do it all again on Monday.

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