US Election 2020 and Cannabis

The 2020 US presidential election looks set to stand the test of time as one of the most critical votes for the American people.

In addition to deciding the immediate future of the country, this election has many potential ramifications when it comes to the cannabis industry.

The fractured state of the US cannabis space has prevented a free-flowing market from flourishing, and has left policy and banking regulations on the back burner.

The decision between four more years of Donald Trump or a new president in Joe Biden may determine the federal standing of cannabis, and there are state-by-state decisions on the docket as well.

While Biden has expressed concerns about cannabis and what he considers a lack of research geared at disproving commonly believed views on its effects, his running mate Kamala Harris has spoken positively about the drug. It is expected that if the Democrats takes the White House they will have a more favorable view on cannabis, its medical benefits and the business surrounding it.

For his part, Trump has been a mixed bag when it comes to cannabis. Jeff Sessions, his first appointed attorney general, mounted what seemed to be a campaign against the burgeoning industry at the state level. Sessions was later removed from his post, leaving a nebulous federal view on the drug.

Even so, cannabis has thrived in the US due to the development of state markets that have legalized medical or recreational cannabis sales. They have allowed the licensing of growing facilities and the development of novel regulated products like vape pens and edibles.

Thanks to the opening of these state markets, various companies have reached investors with the promise of modern commerce options with steady sales and widespread dispensary networks.

These companies have adopted the multi-state operator (MSO) moniker given that they must build operations from the ground up in each state they enter, whether it is via an acquisition or organically.

2020 has been good for MSOs, which have grown from being an alternative marijuana investment to the dominant type of cannabis company in the market — at least according to one financial expert.

“The US is a much bigger market, a much better market, and now this year the US market is performing a lot better than most of the Canadian market,” said Dan Ahrens, managing director and chief operating officer at AdvisorShares, and the active manager for the AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis ETF (ARCA:YOLO) and the AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF (ARCA:MSOS).

Cannabis investors will have to keep a close eye on the results of the US presidential election as it may signify a new era for the industry. Click through to the links below to read more:

• What Happens to Cannabis if Trump Wins?
• What Happens to Cannabis if Biden Wins?
• Which States are Voting on Cannabis in November?

Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Cannabis for real-time updates!

Securities Disclosure: I, Bryan Mc Govern, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.