It’s been creeping into our consciousness, life and economy for years without very many people noticing. Widespread marijuana use. Walk down many urban streets and the sickly sweet stench of pot will assault your sense of smell with its thickness. It’s about to get worse. Everyone who can afford it has a lobbying group working to convince President Trump to reclass marijuana from a Schedule I substance to a Schedule III. This is a very, very, very bad idea. To quote the late First Lady Nancy Reagan “Just say no!”.

Pot was on the mind of Howie Kurtz from Fox News Channel:

Pot was hardly difficult to find on campuses, and elsewhere, back when it was not just illegal but targeted by politicians as a menace to society.

In fact, it often found you, if you stopped in at parties or even small gatherings.

When I was in college, there was a fear of being busted by police and getting kicked out of school or fired from your job. It made otherwise law-abiding kids see the cops as their enemy.

But that was light-years ago.

Now the Trump administration is strongly considering loosening the restrictions on weed.

It still amazes me to drive up Connecticut Avenue here in Washington and see cannabis shops, with such names as MrGreen and Blunt — and Taste Budz, a few blocks from the Capitol — openly peddling the stuff. And it’s branded under highly marketable names, such as Violet Sky and Hash Burger.

A well-reported story by the Free Press says President Trump is considering reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III. That would put it in the same category as anabolic steroids, ketamine and Tylenol with codeine.

By the time I got to college pot was truly everywhere.

Pot is now big, big business. More from Howie Kurtz:

The size of this burgeoning industry is estimated at $38 billion last year — real money, even by jaded Washington standards.

I confess to some mixed feelings. For one thing, today’s cannabis is many times more powerful than the nickel and dime bags that used to circulate.

THC is what makes the pot more powerful:

Short for tetrahydrocannabinol, THC is the component in cannabis responsible for the plant’s psychoactive effects. When you feel “high” after using cannabis, that’s because of THC.

THC is a cannabinoid, a category of chemicals that interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system. By attaching to cannabinoid receptors in the brain, THC activates neurons that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, coordination, and time perception.

Some research and anecdotal evidence indicate THC may be used to treat a range of medical conditions. And from a recreational standpoint, it can feel good, causing a sensation of euphoria and relaxation in some.

No, this is not your grandfather’s pot. According to the Centers for Disease Control, here is the lowdown on today’s marijuana on young brains:

Negative effects of teen cannabis use
Negative effects include:

*Difficulty thinking and problem-solving
*Problems with memory and learning
*Reduced coordination
*Difficulty maintaining attention
*Problems with school and social life

How can cannabis impact a teen’s life:
Increased risk of mental health issues. Cannabis use has been linked to a range of mental health problems, such as depression and social anxiety.2 People who use cannabis are more likely to develop temporary psychosis (not knowing what is real, hallucinations, and paranoia) and long-lasting mental disorders, including schizophrenia (a type of mental illness where people might see or hear things that aren’t there).4The association between cannabis and schizophrenia is stronger in people who start using cannabis at an earlier age and use cannabis more frequently.
Impaired driving. Driving while impaired by any substance, including cannabis, is dangerous and illegal. Cannabis negatively affects several skills required for safe driving, such as reaction time, coordination, and concentration.25
Potential for addiction. Approximately 3 in 10 people who use cannabis have cannabis use disorder.6 Some signs and symptoms of cannabis use disorder include trying but failing to quit using cannabis or giving up important activities with friends and family in favor of using cannabis.7 The risk of developing cannabis use disorder is stronger in people who start using cannabis during youth or adolescence and who use cannabis more frequently.

The tendency to use cannabis is associated with genes linked to impulsive behavior, obesity, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, among other traits, a new study found. https://t.co/g5DRVYajNu

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) October 14, 2025

Boxer Mike Tyson is in favor of the schedule change for marijuana:

No. Just say no.

Oh fun. Psychosis and Schizophrenia. Less anxiety, more relaxation and schizophrenia in youth. So naturally the pot business is growing like a weed.

Many, many years ago, my husband and I disagreed over selling diapers in China. We worked for a large soap company, so it was relevant. He saw increased profits while I saw bending the knee to the Communists. It’s similar with pot. Selling marijuana to old White ladies not a problem. But, knowing that you are potentially destroying the brains of young people is bending the knee to evil ideology.

$38 billion isn’t chump change. Former Speaker John Boehner tried to move pot along corporately but has been quiet lately.

One way to keep a rein on the THC would be to keep the corporations out of it. As much as I hate this idea, small batch growers heavily regulated might work.

We have enough mental health challenges in this country. Let’s not cultivate more with a pot schedule change. Just say NO! And save the economy too.

Featured Image: Chmee2/Wikimedia Commons.org/cropped/ Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported