US State Weighs Marijuana Rescheduling as Poll Shows Cooling Consumer Support for Trump's Approach

A quarterly tracking poll from NuggMD found cannabis consumers' approval of the Trump administration's marijuana policy has declined since the Department of Justice first announced its rescheduling push, and most respondents doubt the process will be finished this year. Alabama's State Committee of Public Health will hold a public hearing this week on whether to drop its objection to rescheduling marijuana under state law, mirroring the federal reclassification effort. A federally funded study found THC and CBD reduced agitation in nine of ten people with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias, concluding cannabinoid medicine "may be an important therapeutic tool" for these patients. In Arkansas, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) and Democratic challenger Fred Love both oppose legalizing cannabis, while Libertarian candidate Colt Shelby said he'd support legalization if voters approved it at the ballot box. At the federal level, Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) addressed hemp's uses in a constituent letter, and the House bill delaying federal recriminalization of hemp THC products gained one more cosponsor, reaching 37 total. In Oklahoma, GOP gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei said Attorney General Gentner Drummond (R), his rival for governor, owns a bank that "operates in the cannabis industry." Florida and Indiana Republican lawmakers voiced support for harm-reduction drug policies despite Trump administration opposition. A California state senator defended new hemp product restrictions against criticism. New Jersey regulators revoked several cannabis licenses and issued $210,000 in fines across seven companies. Michigan officials moved to bar Chad Wurtzel from the state's marijuana industry over alleged violations. Kentucky regulators are hosting medical cannabis webinars, Oregon is accepting applications for a psilocybin testing rules advisory committee, Utah sent out medical cannabis program updates, and Minnesota will hold a cannabis policy listening event Thursday. A separate study found ultraviolet-B light alters the flavonoid chemistry of cannabis flowers, potentially improving medicinal quality without changing cannabinoid levels. Another review noted MDMA produced gains in psychosocial functioning, self-awareness and self-compassion among people with PTSD. Fox News's Laura Ingraham raised concerns about companies dropping marijuana drug testing. Vireo Growth Inc. is acquiring assets from Cannabist Company Holdings subsidiaries in Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey and West Virginia. Illinois recreational marijuana retailers sold $118.1 million worth of product in June. Bill Maher and Penn Jillette discussed their differing approaches to using marijuana.