Whenever a new year rolls around, many people begin to wax poetic about what they hope to achieve in the months ahead. For some, it’s committing (or perhaps, recommitting for the umpteenth time) to leading a healthier lifestyle. For others, it’s manifesting a big life move. I’m thinking about all of those things too—but not just for my own life. The broader cannabis community is also top of mind.
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2026 could be a watershed moment for the cannabis industry. Between rescheduling, hemp policy, and everything in between, it seems there are a lot of changes ahead. Here are my three New Year’s cannabis resolutions for the world.
1. Continue to fight for justice
Cannabis may be on a path toward rescheduling, which would mark the biggest change in federal drug policy in generations. While this would be a small victory for licensed operators, it’s still a long way from legalization.
One of my top cannabis resolutions for 2026 is to see the community continue to come together to free the plant—and the people imprisoned because of it. Schedule III is a start, but it’s not the end of the conversation.
2. Remember our roots
From my perspective, the weed community has never been more divided. Due to a mismatch between federal and state laws, a bifurcated market has emerged: hemp and cannabis. Some companies have chosen to play both sides of the coin, but for the most part, businesses exist staunchly in one camp or the other.
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Bitterness and anger have emerged, despite the fact that we’re all theoretically on the same team at the end of the day. Our enemy is not one another: it’s the policy that led us here. I sincerely wish everyone could see this, so we can move forward on a united front.
3. Elevate the sesh
You’d think this resolution would be an easy W, but I’ve been in the legal cannabis space for a decade, and I’m still waiting. Too many consumption events lack the bare necessities to make them successful: access to water, ample ashtrays, and decent lighting. Some of us take matters into our own hands, procuring a case of water for the fam or dropping branded lighters and trays on tables. But since many see 2026 as the year cannabis grows up, perhaps the seshes will too.
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New Year’s resolutions aren’t only for yourself; they can extend to your family, friends, colleagues, and the world at large. As you count down to midnight and dream about the year ahead, ask yourself: what change do you want to see?
