In 2025, the cannabis industry in the United States is going through a key moment of consolidation and expansion. According to the MJBiz Factbook, this sector will contribute approximately $ 123,600 million to the US economy, a figure that includes not only direct sales estimated at 35.3 billion dollars, but also a secondary economic effect of more than 88,000 million dollars, generated through jobs, indirect services and infrastructure investment. It is a 9% growth compared to the previous year, which responds to the continuous development of new state markets such as New York and Ohio.
This economic dynamism is taking place in parallel to important changes in public perception and the use of cannabis. A recent study published by the American Medical Association (AMA) reveals that the legalization of cannabis has led to an increase in generalized use, but also to a reduction in problematic consumption patterns. This indicates that regulated and legal access may be favoring more informed and responsible consumption. In addition, contrary to traditional fears, evidence suggests that legalization has not increased consumption among adolescents, and could even be reducing it.
This combination of economic growth, social stabilization and public health benefits reinforces the position of cannabis as a mature and strategic industry for the United States. However, its impact transcends the borders of the country. The evolution of the US market has direct implications for Mexico, both in the economic and regulatory field.
Mexico, which has experienced a stagnant legalization process since the declaration of unconstitutionality of the prohibition of adult use in 2021, is in an ambiguous position: on the one hand, it has agroclimatic conditions and labor ideal for the production of large -scale cannabis; on the other, it still lacks a solid legal framework that allows to capitalize on those advantages. Meanwhile, the United States advances in the consolidation of value chains, accumulates business and technological experience, and is positioned as a global leader in cannabis innovation.
If this inertia is maintained, Mexico runs the risk of being relegated as an informal cannabis supplier in an international context that requires traceability, regulatory compliance and quality standards. The lack of comprehensive regulation not only slows the development of a national industry, but also prevents the country from actively participating in a regional market that, by 2030, could represent hundreds of billions of dollars.
The United States example should serve as a point of reference for Mexico. Regulation is not only a way to generate fiscal income and employment, but a tool for public health and social justice. States such as California and New York already show how a legal market can replace informal economies, reduce criminalization and boost complementary sectors such as tourism, scientific research and regenerative agriculture.
In 2025, the message is clear: cannabis has ceased to be a taboo to become a strategic piece of modern economies. Mexico has a window of opportunity to join this transformation, but must act with long -term decision and vision. Otherwise, the country will not lose competitiveness, but will continue to face the social and economic costs of maintaining a prohibitionist model that, in the current context, is obsolete.
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Twitter: @anicannmx
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