Bipartisan congressional lawmakers are making a potentially immediate decision President Donald Trump to move forward with federal marijuana overhaul—Democrats like Rep. Alex Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) call the reform a “no” and others like Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) have pushed back against the proposal.
It was first reported on Thursday that Trump plans to sign an executive order on the reorganization, possibly directing the attorney general to complete the process started by the Biden administration to reclassify cannabis under Title III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
Since then, several lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have weighed in on the plan in interviews with Marihuana Moment. While Democrats may disagree with the president on many policy issues, they have generally welcomed news of the restructuring’s development, though they would eventually like to see the federal ban end entirely rather than increase change.
Ocasio-Cortez said it was a “no brainer” to implement the policy change, which would legalize marijuana but remove some barriers to research and allow cannabis businesses to take a federal tax deduction, symbolically recognizing the plant’s medical value.
“I have honestly felt that it has been a race between the two major parties to get reform,” said the congressman. “I mean, it’s inevitable, so of course I’m all for that move.”
Asked about reports that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) told Trump not to reschedule, Ocasio-Cortez said an executive order would bypass lawmakers who oppose it. The speaker “has no pen” in such orders, he said.
“If he wants to try to pass some legislation and push his entire Republican team to do that, I think that’s within his power,” the congressman said.
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, told Marihuana Moment that while it’s true that Trump plans to advance rescheduling, that would be a “game changer” and a “huge” accomplishment.
However, he said that it is difficult for any member of parliament to take his word seriously, “because the president has often changed his position on various policy issues in the past. “I hope (he will act on the rescheduling) and it will come true,” he said.
Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), another co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, told Marijuana Moment that “Trump’s proposal would be a positive step toward cannabis policy reform, but more work remains.”
Although @POTUS’s proposal would ease restrictions on medical cannabis research and ease some of the state’s tax burden on illegal cannabis businesses, classifying marijuana as a Schedule III substance still allows for the unfair and disproportionate incarceration of recreational users and… https://t.co/wx4J2X3q6F
“While it would ease restrictions on medical cannabis research and alleviate some of the tax burden on state illegal cannabis businesses, classifying marijuana as a Schedule III substance still allows for the unfair and disproportionate incarceration of recreational users and limits access to banking services for cannabis businesses,” he said. “We must continue to address the systemic inequality associated with scheduling cannabis as a dangerous drug.”
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), for his part, did not weigh in on the merits of the reconsideration proposal, but told Marijuana Moment that he was with the president Thursday afternoon and “didn’t hear that” about plans to end the reform process.
One of the House’s most outspoken anti-marijuana lawmakers, Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), insisted that he doesn’t “agree with everything the president does, and I don’t.” He also appears to question the veracity of recent reports about the imminence of a restructuring move, stating that he was told “for sure” it would happen on Thursday, which did not materialize.
There have been mixed reports on the timing of a possible reconsideration action, with some sources still hopeful it will happen on Friday, CNBC to report that the executive order would be issued on Monday of next week and as early as Axios to report that the reform is expected to come early next year.
Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), told Marihuana Moment that rescheduling is a “terrible idea” and noted that he had never discussed the issue with the House Speaker.
In a statement Friday, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) said she was “encouraged to see the first move by the Drug Enforcement Administration under President Biden to reorganize marijuana, and I urge President Trump to continue that effort.”
“Common sense tells us that marijuana should not be in the same category as deadly drugs like heroin, and reclassifying it is a small step forward in creating economic opportunity, supporting research into the medical benefits of marijuana, and increasing public safety,” he said. “However, much more work remains to be done. I will continue to advocate for the complete decriminalization of marijuana and the expungement of the records of Americans convicted of marijuana possession.”
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) reacted to the news by criticizing the Biden administration after it “failed” to complete marijuana rescheduling, and said he hopes the Trump administration doesn’t make the “same mistake.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s former White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, discussed the news development on an episode of his “The Huddle” podcast on Friday and said Trump’s potential reshuffle action, like other policy issues, “comes back to power and money.”
“There are a lot of people who instinctively think it’s a good play with young voters,” he said. “The bottom line, this whole reclassification, really comes down to the financial part of this.”
Spicer added that there is a “bank part” because cannabis companies have long faced a federal ban on accessing banking services, regardless of state laws. However, it inflated the impact of the reorganization on that issue, because placing marijuana in Schedule III of the CSA would not make it federally legal, so some banks would likely continue to avoid serving the marijuana industry even if this modest reform were enacted.
“It’s a big business with a lot of money, and I have to believe that’s what it really comes down to,” he said. “The president is not running for re-election … there are a lot of people who will not be happy about this. I am one of them.”
“You walk through downtown (Washington, DC) or any city, it smells like pot and piss,” he added. “I think, given where we are as a society, the last thing we need to do is make drugs more accessible. I don’t think it’s a good idea, but I’ll tell you, I think where people are missing the story is: Follow the money.”
Trump said this in mid-August he would make the reorganization decision in a week. But despite the growing timeline and rumors, a White House spokesperson told Marihuana Moments on Thursday that “no final decision has been made on rescheduling marijuana.”
The Washington Post reported Thursday afternoon that Trump planned to issue an executive order to federal agencies to move ahead with cannabis rescheduling.
The outlet also said the president met with marijuana industry executives Robert F. Kennedy Jr. earlier this week in the Oval Office. with Secretary of Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz. During that meeting, Trump called Johnson, the House Speaker, who spoke out against the cannabis redistricting,
If the administration ultimately enacts the rescheduling, it would mark one of the most significant developments in federal marijuana policy since its prohibition half a century ago, when it was banned under Article III. With a reclassification, marijuana has medical value and a lower abuse potential compared to Schedule I drugs like heroin.
Trump endorsed the rescheduling — as well as an initiative to legalize access to industrial banking and adult use in Florida — on the campaign trail. The president had been silent on the issue since taking office for a second term, until a meeting in August where, in response to a reporter’s question, he announced that the administration would decide to reschedule in a few weeks.
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Dalgety Ltd has entered into a partnership with Curaleaf Laboratories to supply pharmaceutical grade cannabis medicines to the UK cannabis market. The arrangement combines Dalgety’s cultivation operations, which are certified to EU-GMP standards, with Curaleaf Laboratories’ pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution capabilities. According to the companies, this creates a UK-based supply route that does not rely on imported cannabis flowers, as Dalgety cultivates its product in-house. Dalgety claims it was the first company in the UK to grow, manufacture and supply EU-GMP medical cannabis from a single site.
The growing facility, which is more than 30,000 square feet, is located indoors and uses hydroponic growing methods along with automated lighting, irrigation, humidity and temperature control systems. The company reports that it uses AI-assisted environmental monitoring, which extends the traceability of batches to the final product and compares them to operating standards for air filtration systems. Post-harvest processing is said to follow EU-GMP protocols, including microbial and cannabinoid testing.
The stated goal of this approach is to reduce between-harvest variation in terms of THC and CBD content, terpene profiles, and microbial safety. Dalgety says his cultivation is overseen by staff with experience in horticulture and biochemistry, some of whom have worked on cannabis cultivation projects internationally.
Through a partnership with Curaleaf Laboratories, Dalgety’s UK-grown cannabis is processed and distributed through a UK-based supply chain, rather than imported from overseas. Companies suggest that this arrangement can shorten the time it takes to get products to market compared to importing, and reduce the likelihood of supply disruptions. Because Dalgety and Curaleaf Laboratories are involved in cultivation, manufacturing and distribution, the companies say this oversees the product at every stage, making it clearer for prescribers to see where and how the product was made.
Dalgety operates to EU-GMP standards and has been subject to regulatory review by the MHRA and the Home Office. Its operations include environmental monitoring, microbial testing, stability testing, controlled drying and curing procedures and quality assurance processes, along with controlled and secure facilities.
The company describes its work as controlled environment farming, hydroponic systems, environmental control technology, and efforts to stabilize cannabis genetics and phenotypes for batch-to-batch consistency.
Dalgety has also opened its cultivation facilities for visits to healthcare professionals, clinicians, pharmacists, researchers and other industry stakeholders. The company says this is in response to the fact that much of the cannabis historically supplied to UK patients has been grown overseas, which has limited opportunities for UK clinicians to see first-hand the cultivation and quality control processes. These tours aim to provide visitors with information on cultivation standards, EU-GMP compliance procedures, environmental control systems, testing processes and the regulatory framework governing cannabis manufacturing in the UK.
Dalgety and Curaleaf Laboratories describe their partnership as expanding access to UK-grown medical cannabis, improving supply chain reliability and helping to meet sector regulations, placing it in the wider context of growing demand for cannabis-based treatments from UK patients.
After the state opened its first dispensary in 2019, thousands of Arkansans joined the program and spent a record $291.1 million on medical marijuana in 2025, according to the state Department of Finance and Administration.
Tax revenue from those sales now supports free breakfast for public school students after lawmakers passed legislation last year.
Medical marijuana programs have expanded across the country, as has recreational marijuana. Two dozen states, including neighboring Missouri, allow recreational marijuana use, according to state legislatures.
Restrictions on marijuana have been relaxed at the federal level, and the US Department of Justice earlier this year downgraded the drug classification of medicinal cannabis.
Here’s what Arkansas’ gubernatorial candidates — Democratic State Sen. Fred Love, Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Libertarian Colt Shelby — have to say about legalizing recreational marijuana.
Democratic State Sen. Fred Love
Love said he opposes legalization during a debate at the Arkansas Press Association’s annual conference in June.
Sitting in a crosswalk at her daughter’s school, Love said “marijuana is all over” as the children exited their vehicles. When you grow up in a community where recreational marijuana is present, you see that it doesn’t always have a positive effect, he said.
“I don’t think it’s something I support,” Love said. “I’ve seen the long-term impact.”
While he doesn’t personally support it, Love said he would support legalizing recreational marijuana if Arkansans voted on it.
Libertarian Colt Shelby
Shelby said he’s for whatever Arkansans want, so he would support legalizing recreational marijuana if voters approve.
Shelby said the state’s elected officials have forgotten what matters most is what Arkansans want, which is why she’s running for office.
Although Shelby says she doesn’t smoke weed herself, she says almost everyone knows it and she has the meds.
“It brings a lot of good things, so I won’t say that I’m against it, but let the people decide”, he said in the debate in June.
Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Sanders did not participate in the June debate, but said in an emailed statement that he does not support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
“Giving more access to drugs, especially recreational access, does nothing to help or benefit Arkansans,” Sanders said.
Marijuana Moment is made possible with the help of readers. If you rely on our pro-cannabis journalism to stay informed, consider a monthly Patreon pledge.
The World Cup is coming to an end, with the third-place play-off between France and England on Saturday, and the final between Spain and Argentina the following day. It won’t be long until the grand winner of FreshPublishers’ first World Cup pool is revealed.
As previously reported, Slim Kooli from Courchesne Laros is the favorite to win the €1,000 prize. He has secured a comfortable lead over Nol Batist of North American Interstate Greenhouse Company, while buyer Bjorn Van Ryckeghem of Deprez Construct is currently in third place.
1
Sim School
Spain
1–0
2–1
737
9716
2
Nol Batist
France
2–1
1–1
674
9433
3
Bjorn Van Ryckeghem
France
2–2
3–1
674
9264
4
Christian Anton Smedshaug
England
1–2
1–2
659
9134
5
Perry Springintveld
Spain
1–1
2–1
647
9105
6
Willem Tijssen
Spain
2–0
2–1
710
9098
7
Hans Borsboom
Spain
2–1
2–1
528
9058
8
Bart Triemstra
Spain
2–1
2–1
737
9052
9
Youness Bensaid
Spain
2–1
1–1
722
8954
10
Vijay Dijkstra
Portugal
2–0
2–1
382
8953
However, there have been some surprises during the tournament, and bonus points must be added, so we will keep the suspense a little longer. On Monday we will find out who is the main World Cup announcer in the international fruit, vegetable and horticulture sector…