Omar Khan: Medical Marijuana Benefits From Rescheduling
The episode of Trade to Black, hosted by Shadd Dales and Anthony Varrell, cannabis rescheduling still under review in Washington and Farm Bill negotiations continuing in Congress, some stakeholders believe a more unified industry position could influence how cannabinoids are regulated moving forward. In addition, we discuss new research out of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem examining how cannabinoids like CBD and CBG may impact metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, known as MASLD. Early findings suggest these compounds could help reduce liver fat and improve metabolic function. Finally, Omar Khan, Chief Communications Officer at High Tide Inc. (NASDAQ: HITI | TSXV: HITI), joins the show to discuss the company’s decision to become a founding member of the National Compassionate Care Council and what that initiative aims to accomplish as federal cannabis policy discussions continue.
Kicking off with the latest headlines, in Florida, the state Supreme Court rejected an appeal from marijuana legalization advocates attempting to restore invalidated ballot signatures. The decision effectively ends the campaign’s effort to place adult-use cannabis legalization on the 2026 ballot, closing the door — at least for now — on what many believed could have been one of the largest potential cannabis markets in the United States. We also look at new reporting suggesting that leaders from the hemp and marijuana industries may be finding some common ground on federal policy priorities.
Omar Khan, Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer at High Tide, joins the show to discuss the company’s membership in the newly formed National Compassionate Care Council, or NCCC. Khan explained that the organization was created to bridge the gap between patients, researchers, and federal policymakers, with a mandate to collate research and bring evidence-based position papers to decision makers in Washington. High Tide was drawn in through outreach connected to Howard Kessler’s network, and the company sees the council as a way to position its U.S.-based CBD brands — New Leaf Naturals and Fab CBD — for participation in a potential Medicare pilot program that could provide American seniors up to $500 annually for CBD products. Khan was candid that the pilot is less about near-term revenue and more about brand normalization and establishing a foothold ahead of broader federal medical reform. On the question of who will ultimately shape U.S. medical cannabis policy, Khan argued that the math in the Senate simply doesn’t support federal legalization in the near term, and that meaningful change will require generational turnover in Congress.
The episode closed with a discussion of new preclinical research out of Hebrew University of Jerusalem suggesting that CBD and CBG may reduce liver fat accumulation and show regenerative effects in patients with chronic liver disease. Both hosts urged caution given the early stage of the research, but expressed optimism that as rescheduling unlocks further study, the therapeutic case for cannabinoids will only strengthen.
