As the global cannabis community continues to assess the potential cannabis industry and policy impact of looming federal cannabis rescheduling in the United States, the results of a recent German Cannabis Business Association survey shed light on what industry members in Europe expect.

The German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW) recently posed the question, “In the USA, cannabis is expected to be reclassified nationwide in 2026 – after approximately 56 years – thus formally recognizing its medical benefits. How strong do you assess the signal this will send for regulation in Europe?”

“The majority consider the development highly significant: 33% rated its signaling effect as very strong, and another 28% as rather strong. Just under 22% responded with “partly/partly,” while approximately 17% assessed the effect as rather weak.” BvCW stated about the survey results in a recent newsletter (translated from German to English).

“The result shows that the expected reclassification in the USA is understood by many as a relevant international signal that could also provide impetus for European regulation.” the organization also wrote in its newsletter. The survey was conducted from December 22, 2025, to January 5, 2026.

On December 18th, 2025, United States President Donald Trump ordered his administration to reschedule cannabis from its current status as a Schedule I substance to Schedule III. As part of the official directive, President Trump signed an executive order calling for the rescheduling process to be expedited. It set in motion the most significant federal cannabis public policy change in the U.S. since the enactment of the Controlled Substances Act over half a century ago.

The Controlled Substances Act, which was first implemented in 1971, resulted in cannabis being classified as a Schedule I substance. Schedule I substances are described by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as “drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” Conversely, Schedule III substances are described as “drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.”

The most immediate impact of cannabis being rescheduled from Schedule I to Schedule III pertains to how many state-level cannabis companies are taxed due to 280E. Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code prohibits businesses from deducting certain business expenses from gross income associated with the “trafficking” of Schedule I or II substances, as defined by the Controlled Substances Act.

Moving cannabis to Schedule III will result in state-legal cannabis businesses in the U.S. saving billions of dollars annually. Those U.S. cannabis industry tax savings can be used for any number of things, including helping companies expand their operations domestically and internationally. European markets will no doubt be a popular target for such expansions.