Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at the status of rescheduling, tips on selecting a cannabis beverage, cannabis use and cognitive health in older adults and more. Enjoy.
Rescheduling Update
Top Takeaway: There has yet to be any substantive movement on moving cannabis to Schedule lll status.
If you are looking for signs that the rescheduling of cannabis is moving along “expeditiously,” don’t hold your breath. The DEA has issued a statement that the rescheduling appeal process “remains pending” and that “No briefing schedule has been set.”
You know the drill. The more things change when it comes to cannabis policy at the federal level, the more they remain the same.
According to Kyle Jaeger, reporting for Marijuana Moment, the “pending” statement comes just weeks after President Trump signed an executive order directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to expeditiously finalize a rule to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
To be fair, part of the hold up is that the DEA’s new administrator, Terrance Cole, is still reviewing allegations of agency bias and improper communications with anti-rescheduling parties during the rescheduling review process.
Jaeger noted in his article that a recent report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) noted that the DOJ could in theory decline to enact rescheduling, or start the review process all over again, for example.
We believe that the problem, from the very beginning, has been that the DEA’s mission is law enforcement, it is responsible for maintaining the scheduling of drugs and the folks there are reluctant to relinquish control over the rescheduling process to any other institution, including the White House.
Translation – they’ll get to it when they are good and ready, no matter how many scientists and medical professionals you have lined up to testify that cannabis should be a Schedule lll drug, thank you very much.
So, does all of this just boil down to an institutional turf war? In the words of Francis Urquhart, while you might very well think that, we couldn’t possibly comment.
More news as more news develops, if and when it does.
As always, Kyle Jaeger’s reporting is clear, concise and insightful. To learn more, we urge you to read his article in the January 5, 2026 issue of Marijuana Moment.net.
s://www.marijuanamoment.net/dea-says-marijuana-rescheduling-appeal-process-remains-pending-despite-trumps-executive-order
Cannabis Quote of the Week
Top Takeaway: The new drug czar is ok with cannabis used for medical reasons.
“I don’t have any problem if it’s legalized and it’s monitored. I mean, I may have my own issues of how I feel about that, but I do believe that cannabis for medicinal purposes and medical reasons is a fantastic way of handling—especially for people with cancer and other illnesses, you know—of handling the illness and the side effects of the medication and those illnesses. So I’m not saying we’ve gotta make it illegal.” – Sara Carter Bailey
Ms. Bailey has been confirmed by the Senate to serve as the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) – aka, the White House drug czar.
A former journalist, who, according to KyleJaeger, reporting for Marijuana Moment, was known for her coverage of drug cartels, Bailey has described cannabis reform as a “bipartisan issue.”
Her comments are taken from a 2024 episode of her podcast – we guess everyone has one – “The Sara Carter Show.”
To learn more, we urge you to read Kyle Jaeger’s article in the January 6, 2026 issue of Marijuana Moment.net.
Cannabis Corner
Top Takeaway: Not all hemp beverages produce the same results.
There’s helpful news for mature consumers who would like to try cannabis beverages, while they are still legal, but don’t know where to begin.
Emily Levin, in an article she penned for The Daily Beast, has curated what she calls the “ultimate guide to legal hemp drinks.” Here are three of her favorites.
If you are looking for a beverage that’s conducive to socializing, she recommends Senorita. According to Levin, this brand offers two types of THC-infused margaritas that are delicious as well as being the most “giggle-inducing beverages” on her list.
She describes the Lime Jalapeño Margarita as the perfect amount of sweet and spicy, while their newest—Ranch Water – is said to be refreshing with just a hint of sweetness. Both contain 10 mg of THC.
https://www.senoritadrinks.com/
If you want something to pair with a meal, say in place of red wine, Levin suggests a brand called Afterdream. She said the tropical flavors, with notes of pineapple, cherry and orange, are complex and feel chef-inspired. Their offerings come in two strengths: 2.5 milligrams of THC and 5 milligrams.
Those seeking a relaxing beverage may want to explore a line of potables called Downshift. These drinks, from a company called Shift Naturals, pair two milligrams of THC with 10 milligrams of CBD and 10 milligrams of “terpene blend” in fresh seltzer flavors, such as Trail Berry and Wild Tangerine. Levin says the 5:1 ratio of CBD to THC contributes to that floaty, no-worries feeling.
If you are looking for something stronger, the company has a line of cocktails with four milligrams of THC and 12 milligrams of CBD for a slightly more social effect.
Emily Levin does an entertaining and informative job of describing what, for many mature consumers, is still unexplored territory. You can learn much more by reading her article in the December 31, 2025 issue of The Daily Beast.com.
thedailybeast.com/thc-beverages-ranked-and-reviewed/
Cannabis and Cognitive Health
Top Takeaway: Cannabis use influences brain health differently at different stages of life.
A new study by researchers affiliated with the University of Colorado suggests cannabis use potentially has protective effects on the brain in older age, while posing risks if used earlier in an individual’s development.
That’s a key finding of the study, which was published in The Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. The Journal is published by Rutgers University.
The objective of the study was to clarify the relationship between cannabis use and brain health among middle-aged and older adults.
To that end, the researchers used data from the UK Biobank, which includes health information from over 500,000 adults. Associations between cannabis use, regional brain volume, and cognition in participants aged 40–70 years (mean age = 54.5) were evaluated.
The research team found evidence that suggested that greater lifetime use of cannabis was linked to better performance in learning, processing speed, and short-term memory in older adults.
Based on their findings, they concluded that cannabis may influence brain health differently across the lifespan, potentially offering protective effects in older age, while posing risks earlier in development. Protective effects may result from endocannabinoid-mediated modulation of inflammation, immune function, and neurodegeneration.
To read an abstract of the study, which appeared in the December 11, 2025 issue of The Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, Click on the link that follows.
https://www.jsad.com/doi/10.15288/jsad.25-00346 brain health
Tips for Home Growers
Top Takeaway: Soil conditions can have an impact on the cannabinoid profiles of cannabis plants
A new study published in the Journal of Medicinally Active Plants suggests that cannabis plants can develop different cannabinoid profiles based on their soil conditions.
So says TG Branfalt, in an article he wrote for Ganjapreneur. According to Branfalt, the research team, which included individuals affiliated with the Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State plant biology program, and Keystone State Testing Laboratory, compared hemp grown in conventionally tilled fields to hemp grown using no-till cover crop methods.
According to Branfalt, they found that the hemp grown in conventional soil produced THC levels up to six times higher than plants grown in cover crop fields.
They also found that fields tended with a cover crop, rather than conventional tilling methods, produced plants with higher levels of CBD.
Wrote the researchers, “Poor soil quality appears to result in higher levels of THC production, whereas higher soil quality may result in higher levels of the precursor cannabinoid, CBG.” This would lead to higher levels of CBD in the plants.
Branfalt noted the authors believe their study is the first “to show differences in extract composition of outdoor cultivated hemp grown in different soil conditions.”
The research was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture and medical cannabis company PA Options for Wellness.
As always, TG Branfalt’s reporting is crisp and on point. To learn more, click on the link below.
https://ganjapreneur.com/study-soil-types-can-alter-cannabinoid-concentration/?
Senior Cannabis Digest is compiled and edited by Joe Kohut and John Kohut. You can reach them at joe.kohut@gmail.com and at 347-528-8753.