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Trump considers cannabis reclassification, dispensary owners react

President Donald Trump made a major announcement about marijuana at a press conference that he held this week.

Jade Nash

Aug 14, 2025, 9:33 PM

Updated 2 hr ago

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Days after President Donald Trump announced that he is considering the reclassification of cannabis, a group of dispensary owners in the Hudson Valley shared how the move would impact them.
President Trump made a major announcement about marijuana at a press conference that he held this week.
"We're looking at reclassification and we'll make a determination over the next, I would say, over the next few weeks," Trump said.
The United States Drug Enforcement Administration currently lists marijuana as a Schedule I drug, alongside substances like heroin and LSD.
News 12 caught up with Jesus Fontanez and Eyasser Noboa, the co-owners of Cannabis Realm, before they open their second location in Spring Valley, to learn how a reschedule would impact them.
"It should help with the banking," Fontanez said. "Also with credit cards, being able to accept credit cards. A lot of customers would like to use credit cards, but they can't. It's not allowed with cannabis at the moment."
Noboa said a reschedule would also help them when it comes down to tax season.
"Right now, we get no write-offs. We're not allowed any write-offs. Barely any," Noboa said.
Alexandra Stratyner, a psychologist with Stratyner and Associates who helps patients with addiction recovery, said discussion about a reschedule was actually already in the works.
"This was being considered, and had been recommended, under the Biden administration, so it seems like a continuation along those lines," Stratyner said.
Stratyner also clarified that if this kind of change were to occur, it wouldn't impact the drug's legal status or minimize its risks.
"It's important for the public to know that marijuana is a substance that somebody can develop a substance use disorder with," says Stratyner.
Stratyner encouraged people struggling with Cannabis Use Disorder to seek help.