Weed ETF waives fee ahead of much-awaited drug relabeling

Weed ETF waives fee ahead of much-awaited drug relabeling
The sector-focused fund will sport a zero percent expense ratio for a limited time as regulators move to reclassify the substance.
JUL 01, 2024

Roundhill Investments is completely waiving the fee for its $5.6 million cannabis fund as US regulators move to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous substance.

Starting Monday, the actively managed Roundhill Cannabis ETF (ticker WEED) is dropping its expense ratio to zero from 40 basis points for at least one year, according to a filing submitted to the US Securities and Exchange Commission last week. 

“With the likely upcoming reclassification of cannabis to a Schedule III drug potentially serving as a catalyst for the space, Roundhill is offering this fee waiver for the WEED ETF to make investing in cannabis more accessible,” said David Mazza, Roundhill’s chief executive officer. 

The Department of Justice in May had formally started the procedure of shifting marijuana’s legal status to Schedule III, less dangerous, from Schedule I, most dangerous, a move that’s been backed by President Joe Biden. 

WEED has lost 58% since its April 20, 2022 inception — a date celebrated among cannabis aficionados every year — but has notched a nearly 5% gain year to date.

Still, the dozen exchange-traded funds linked to cannabis and psychedelics tracked by Bloomberg Intelligence have seen 17 consecutive monthly inflows, with investors plowing $393 million into them this year alone. The largest in the group is the $889 million AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF (MSOS), launched in September 2020, which has an expense ratio of 74 basis points.

The long-awaited step toward potential acceptance of marijuana is widely viewed as a victory for the industry, with many anticipating significant benefits, from reduced civil and criminal penalties to tax advantages. No decision has been made yet and reclassifying cannabis will not decriminalize it. 

Latest News

Workers are financially drowning and retirement savings is a major red flag
Workers are financially drowning and retirement savings is a major red flag

Transamerica Institute survey reveals a stark divide between employer confidence and workers' financial reality.

SEC corporate enforcement hits multi-decade low as agency refocuses on fraud
SEC corporate enforcement hits multi-decade low as agency refocuses on fraud

Just five actions were started in the first half of fiscal 2026, a new analysis finds.

Beyond the Business: Why Advisors Must Help Owners Separate Wealth from Identity
Beyond the Business: Why Advisors Must Help Owners Separate Wealth from Identity

For business owners, the company is often more than an income source. It becomes their largest asset, their retirement plan, and in many cases, part of their identity. Advisors who understand that dynamics can deliver far greater value than traditional financial planning alone

Ex-Edward Jones advisor gets three-year prison sentence for stealing from widow
Ex-Edward Jones advisor gets three-year prison sentence for stealing from widow

John S. Winslow, 57, was indicted just over a year ago for his scheme to steal from an elderly client.

Vestmark, Hamachi push AI further for advisor portfolio intelligence
Vestmark, Hamachi push AI further for advisor portfolio intelligence

Hamachi's new model portfolio partnership and an industry-first solution from Vestmark join the growing wave of AI tools for wealth managers.

SPONSORED Beyond wealth management: Why the future of advice is becoming more human

As technical expertise becomes increasingly commoditized, advisors who can integrate strategy, relationships, and specialized expertise into a cohesive client experience will define the next era of wealth management

SPONSORED Durability over scale: What actually defines a great advisory firm

Growth may get the headlines, but in my experience, longevity is earned through structure, culture, and discipline