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Most Americans Back Legalizing Marijuana, But Trump Voters Not On Board, Conservative Group’s Poll Shows Amid Rescheduling Rumors

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2 months ago

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As President Donald Trump prepares to announce his decision on rescheduling marijuana, a new poll from a religiously conservative research firm again shows that a majority of Americans are ready to fully legalize cannabis. Trump voters, however, are not on board with the change, except for the younger ones.

The survey — conducted by YouGov on behalf of the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) — was detailed in a post last week on its Family Matters blog by one of the organization’s senior researchers. Overall, 57 percent of respondents found that they “somewhat” or “strongly” support the legalization of cannabis.

The demographic breakdown of age and political affiliation showed familiar divisions on the issue, with a majority (53 percent) of those over 46 who voted for Trump in the last election opposing legalization. However, 49 percent of Trump voters aged 18-45 say they support reform.

Among people who voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in the last election, however, there was an unusual finding: more people in the older cohort (87%) said they support legalization than the younger group (71%).

When asked about the net impact of legalization on society, 68 percent of younger Harris voters said the social benefits outweigh the costs, and an even greater majority (82 percent) of older Harris voters said the same.

By contrast, majorities of young and older Trump voters (59 percent and 67 percent, respectively) said legalization is associated with “more social costs than benefits.”

Adults aged 18-45 without children were more than 60 percent in favor of ending the ban, compared to 52 percent who are parents, the poll found.

“This provides the blueprint for a new political coalition interested in curbing the abuses of our fast-track entry into the widespread world of medical marijuana,” said EPPC’s Patrick Brown. he saidand if the Trump administration moves to reschedule marijuana, “conservatives and well-intentioned liberals should not accept a new reality of capitalism-driven marijuana availability without a fight.”

“Concerns about widespread weed’s potential for children’s health — and the long-term outcomes of young adults — will not go away, regardless of the profit motive involved,” he said.

While this poll shows a partisan divide on the issue with most Republicans opposed to legalization, other independent polls in recent years have indicated that ending prohibition is an increasingly bipartisan issue. That being said, Support among GOP voters has fallen slightly over the past year, according to a recent Gallup poll.

A separate research firm associated with the Trump poll of registered voters recently showed this A majority of Republicans support various cannabis reformsincluding rescheduling, states’ rights to legalize and the marijuana industry’s access to banking services and stock exchanges.

Sources familiar with the decision the administration may make on marijuana reform have not suggested the president wants to. legalize marijuana, though. The proposal to move cannabis from Schedule I to III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) would mean that it would still be prohibited. But marijuana companies could begin taking federal tax deductions, which could help reduce some research barriers related to Schedule I drugs.

Also announced this week was the president’s executive order on the planned rescheduling It may also include additional components on banking access for cannabis businesses and Medicare coverage for CBD.

on monday Trump said he is “very hard” considering rescheduling cannabis in part, to ease the restrictions on research on its effects.

Those against policy change have it he increased his efforts to prevent the administration from continuingArguing that reclassification to Schedule III will further normalize the use of marijuana, even though the plant has not been federally legalized. The rescheduling, however, would allow marijuana companies to take federal tax deductions while reducing some of the research barriers associated with Decision I drugs.

Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), one of the most vocal prohibitionists in Congress, said this week Trump has no authority to unilaterally reschedule marijuana by executive order. But while lawmakers could overturn any administrative move to enact reform, he acknowledged it would be a “huge increase” in the Republican-controlled Congress.

Meanwhile, they are the top Democrats in Congress saying that the modest reform would not go far enough– including Sen. Ron Wyden (R-OR), who said the move is nothing more than an attempt by the president to “gaslight” voters into thinking he legalized cannabis to boost his “pathetic” approval ratings.

A major organization in the drug testing industry said this separately Amid reports of “sounding the alarm” Trump may soon end the reorganization proposalthat the policy change would have “catastrophic consequences for the safety of US workers and the transportation sector.”

—
It’s Marijuana Time tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelic and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters by pledging at least $25/month, you’ll get access to our interactive maps, charts, and audio calendars so you never miss a development.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracking and become a Patreon supporter to gain access
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or for what it’s worth, a White House spokesperson told Marijuana Moment last week that no action has been taken so far.

They have been members of Congress in bipartisanship weighing a possible decision to reorganize last week—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.

The Washington Post reported last week that Trump planned to issue an executive order to federal agencies to move forward 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 opposed the rescheduling of cannabis,

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.

Mike Latimer’s photo.

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Oklahoma Governor wants to shut down medical cannabis program

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3 hours ago

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February 4, 2026

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Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt he said He wants to return the state’s medical marijuana program to voters. In his State of the State address, Stitt called for a state question in 2026 for citizens to decide whether to end the program, citing concerns about “bad actors” and criminal influence.

Dispensary owner Dana Herrick he reacted to the adHe noted that in 2018 medical cannabis was approved by voters. Herrick said the program gave patients access to drugs and raised questions about what returning the issue to a public vote would mean for existing companies.

The state’s medical cannabis system has grown since 2018. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority oversees growers, processors and dispensaries with more than 1,500 active licenses. Regulators have implemented measures such as credential checks and a temporary moratorium on new licenses to manage the industry’s growth.










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Virginia Senators Approve Bills To Legalize Marijuana Sales And Provide Resentencing Relief To People With Prior Convictions

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3 hours ago

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February 4, 2026

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Virginia senators have passed a pair of bills to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana and reduce penalties for people with prior cannabis convictions.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 9-6 on Wednesday to advance legislation for Sen. Lashrecse Aird (D) to sell marijuana. Members also voted 12-TK3 to approve Senate President Louise Lucas’ (D) anti-cannabis measure.

Both measures then go to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, potentially before reaching a date.

Aird told colleagues in Wednesday’s speech that his bill “establishes a marketplace that protects consumers and puts health and safety first, ensures a balance in our regulatory framework that ensures legalization is consistent with public health and safety goals, and avoids past mistakes built into alcohol laws that allow the legal substance to continue to be criminalized.”

“I know there’s interest in aligning the approach we take in this legislation with (the Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority’s) enforcement structure, but if we do that too narrowly, we risk building a legal system that relies on arrests, mandatory fines, mandatory minimums, prison sentences and low-level offenses,” he said. “And that approach has failed with alcohol and will fail again for cannabis.”

The panel accepted several amendments from Sen. Scott Surovell (D), the panel’s chairman, over Aird’s objection.

Among the changes are amendments to “essentially align the penalties for the illegal sale of alcohol with the illegal sale of marijuana,” Surovell said, bringing the penalties for minors in possession of cannabis on par with those for alcohol.

Another bench-approved amendment adds criminal penalties for buying marijuana from an unlicensed dealer.




Marijuana Justice’s Chelsea Higgs Wise supported the overall bill, but expressed concern about the recently passed criminal amendments, calling it “a step backwards.”

A representative of the Virginia State Conference of the NAACP also said, “If we really want to prepare our children for success, we’re not going to criminalize them, but we’re going to figure out how to support them so they can make better choices.”

JM Pedini, director of development for advocacy group NORML and executive director of Virginia NORML, told Marijuana Moment that the organization is “deeply concerned about committee members’ re-criminalization of cannabis users and mandatory minimum approvals for marijuana.”

“It is particularly troubling that as this body moves to address resentment of marijuana-related penalties, it is simultaneously entertaining new ways to further criminalize consumers,” Pedini said.

Approval of the amended sales invoice comes in about a week The House General Laws Committee approved a supplemental version of the legislationDel. Paul Krizek (D).

As passed in committee, the legislation is largely in line with recommendations released by the legislature in December. Joint Commission to Oversee the Transition to the Commonwealth Retail Cannabis Market.

Since legalizing cannabis ownership and home cultivation in 2021, Virginia lawmakers have been working to establish a commercial marijuana market– Only for those efforts to stall under former Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), who twice vetoed measures sent to his desk by the Legislature.

the senate the version calls for sales to begin on January 1, 2027, while the House bill stipulates that the sale of cannabis for adult consumption can begin on November 1 of this year.

Here are the main details of Virginia’s legal marijuana sales legislation:

  • Adults would be able to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana in a single transaction, or up to an equivalent amount of other cannabis products, as determined by regulators.
  • The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority would oversee licensing and regulation of the new industry. Its board of directors would have the authority to control the possession, sale, transportation, distribution, delivery and testing of marijuana.
  • A tax of up to 12.625 percent would apply to the retail sale of any cannabis product. That would include a 1.125 percent state retail and use tax on top of a new 8 percent marijuana-specific tax. Local governments can charge an additional 3.5 percent.
  • The tax revenue would be divided between the costs of administering and enforcing the state’s marijuana system, a new Cannabis Equity Investment Fund, pre-kindergarten programs, substance use disorder prevention and treatment programs, and public health programs such as awareness campaigns designed to prevent drug-impaired driving and discourage underage use.
  • Local governments could not allow marijuana companies to operate in their area.
  • Delivery services would be allowed.
  • Serving sizes would be limited to 10 milligrams of THC, with no more than 100 mg of THC per package.
  • Existing medical cannabis operators could enter the adult-use market if they pay a $10 million license conversion fee.
  • Cannabis businesses should implement peaceful labor agreements with their employees.
  • A legislative committee would direct the addition of local consumer licenses and micro-enterprise cannabis event permits that would allow licensees to hold sales at farmers markets or pop-up locations. The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority would also investigate the possibility of involvement in marijuana regulation and enforcement.

Just sworn Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) supports legalizing the sale of marijuana to adults.

Another cannabis law passed by a Senate committee Wednesday would require people with certain felonies to automatically receive resentencing hearings and adjust their sentences. A Del. Rozia Henson, Jr. Also advanced House Companion version of (D). recently

The legislation would create a process for people who are incarcerated or under community supervision for certain crimes involving the possession, manufacture, sale or distribution of marijuana to receive an automatic sentencing hearing.

The invoice It applies to people with convictions or convictions for conduct that occurred before July 1, 2021, when a state law that legalized personal possession and home cultivation of marijuana went into effect.

The panel approved some technical changes before passing the legislation.

—
It’s Marijuana Time tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelic and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters by pledging at least $25/month, you’ll get access to our interactive maps, charts, and audio calendars so you never miss a development.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracking and become a Patreon supporter to gain access
—

Meanwhile, Virginia lawmakers have introduced other marijuana-related legislation for the 2026 session, among other things. allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana in hospitals.

Separately, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry has published a new defining workplace protections for cannabis users.

Mike Latimer’s photo.

Marihuana 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.

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Gavita International launches Agrolux Operating System

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1 day ago

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February 3, 2026

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During Fruit Logistica, Gavita International launches the future Agrolux Operating System and the LYRA modular product platform. “The latest developments highlight Gavita International’s evolution into a fully integrated solution that supports growers throughout the crop cycle,” says CEO Marc Salvany.

After the management buyout on October 1, 2025, Gavita International is led by Marc Salvany (CEO) and Ad van der Vorst (CFO). With the launch of the Agrolux Actuator System, Gavita International is presenting not only a future-ready platform, but also its new strategic location: this presentation is the basis for the future developments of the globally operating lighting systems supplier.

The launch of the Agrolux brand underlines the company’s strategic move towards a fully integrated solution for professional growers.

© Agrolux

Agrolux Operating System
“The Agrolux Operating System is a future-proof and user-friendly platform that enables professional farmers to improve performance, efficiency and return on investment, while actively contributing to a more sustainable, circular and resilient horticultural ecosystem,” explained Marc. “It supports electrical power and wireless communication, the Horticultural Lighting Protocol (HLP), and can work seamlessly with a climate computer or standalone. The system is also fully compatible with all generations of Agrolux (LED) luminaires as well as third-party brands.”

The Agrolux Operating System has capabilities on its development page, such as AI-based lighting strategies and integration with sensors, providing advanced automation, monitoring and control for modern greenhouse operations. The Agrolux Operating System protects existing investments while enabling smarter and more sustainable farming.

LYRA: the modular product platform of the future, fully complementary to the Agrolux portfolio
Together with the Agrolux Operating System, Gavita International is proudly developing LYRA; A new modular and future product platform to support current and next generation greenhouses. “At the heart of the LYRA platform is a modular design that supports multiple applications, including multi-channel configurations to enable lighting strategies, combined with a flexible power range from 340W to 1200W, depending on the producer’s requirements.”

The LYRA is designed around a single driver housing concept that allows LED modules to be added, upgraded and adjusted, ensuring the luminaire adapts to evolving technology, regulations and grower needs. Together with LYRA, the Agrolux OS system will continue to offer renewed features and innovations to the product platform.

LYRA complements the entire Agrolux (LED) luminaire portfolio, and the Agrolux Operating System supports all generations of Agrolux (LED) luminaires. “Together, they are designed to offer the professional greenhouse grower as much as possible
flexibility and long-term certainty in a rapidly evolving technology innovation landscape.”

LYRA will initially be available in a 4-channel version.

The defining moment
“Unveiling the Agrolux Operating System and previewing LYRA at Fruit Logistic is a defining moment for our company. This presentation marks a significant and exciting chapter for Gavita International, thanks to our dedicated team and the continued support of our trusted partners and respected growers. We look forward to meeting visitors in Berlin and showcasing our new developments,” said Marc.

Live demonstration at Fruit Logistica
At Fruit Logistica 2026, Gavita International will demonstrate the Agrolux operation
System live at stand A-46 in the Dutch Pavilion (Hall 3.2), seen first hand.
LIRA

Appointments for a demonstration can be booked online.

For more information:
Gavita International
(email protected)
www.agrolux.com

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