At Trust Integritas, we empower cannabis businesses with secure, compliant retirement solutions that prioritize long-term success and employee financial well-being.
Pioneering the way for Cannabis access to Retirement Solutions
The Impact of Schedule III on Cannabis 401(k)s: Reality vs Expectation
Schedule III may represent progress for parts of the cannabis industry, but it does not eliminate the retirement plan barriers facing adult-use operators. Federal illegality, Section 280E, and ongoing provider compliance concerns continue to limit access to traditional 401(k) solutions—making customized retirement strategies, including ESOPs in appropriate cases, more important than ever.
Why the IRS’s 2026 Retirement Plan Adjustments Are a Wake-Up Call for Cannabis Employers
The annual IRS Cost-of-Living Adjustments, detailed in Notice 2025-67, are typically viewed by large corporations as routine accounting updates. But in the high-stakes operational environment of the cannabis sector, these routine figures—such as the increase in the defined contribution plan limit from 70000 to 72000 for the 2026 plan year—represent immediate, non-negotiable deadlines. For cannabis operators navigating the tense landscape between state legality and federal prohibition, proactively managing these increases is less about efficiency and more about license defense. A failure to adopt the new maximum elective deferral limit of 24500 signals outdated HR governance, directly weakening retention efforts where competition for skilled talent is fierce, and potentially attracting closer regulatory inspection concerning overall organizational maturity. We break down the critical 2026 limits you must implement by January 1st to remain compliant and competitive in this evolving market. Trust Integritas can help you structure plans that meet today’s laws for employees in the cannabis industry. For more information, reach out to us at Trust-Integritas.com.