In a move anticipated by many in the medical industry, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would reclassify marijuana as a seemingly less dangerous drug. On Thursday, President Trump signed an executive order that would reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug, in accordance with the Controlled Substances Act. 'It's never safe to use powerful controlled substances in recreational manners.'"I'm pleased to announce that I will be signing an executive order to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance with legitimate medical uses," Trump announced from the Oval Office, surrounded by doctors, researchers, and others. RELATED: RFK Jr. moves to ban transgender procedures for children: 'This is not medicine; it is malpractice' Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty ImagesDuring the ceremony, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said that the executive order will allow "millions of Americans on Medicare to become eligible to receive CBD ... at no charge if their doctors recommend them."According to a White House fact sheet, the reclassification of marijuana to Schedule III status will open up more opportunities for research to test the uses of medical marijuana. Currently, marijuana is in the same classification as drugs like heroin, LSD, ecstasy, methaqualone, and peyote, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.The reclassification will place marijuana in the same schedule as Tylenol with codeine, ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone. However, this executive order will have no impact on the recreational use of marijuana, as Trump clarified at the signing. Trump added, "I want to emphasize that the order I am about to sign ... doesn't legalize marijuana in any way, shape, or form — and in no way sanctions its use as a recreational drug. ... It's never safe to use powerful controlled substances in recreational manners.""President Trump is committed to ensuring our seniors, our veterans, and all Americans have access to the best medical treatments and research infrastructure in the world," the White House fact sheet said. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

More than 300 residents in Colorado received federal housing benefits despite being ineligible, including over 200 deceased individuals, according to an audit.The New York Post reported on Thursday that an audit by the Department of Housing and Urban Development found that 221 deceased individuals and another 87 ineligible residents received taxpayer-funded housing benefits.'From deceased tenants to individuals receiving HUD housing benefits who were never supposed to, the Department has questions for HUD-supported housing providers in Colorado, and we expect prompt answers and enforcement action.'The department is requiring an additional 2,519 beneficiaries to undergo verification to confirm their eligibility. A source told the Post that HUD found that the fraud involved most of Colorado’s 59 public housing agencies and was “particularly pronounced in the Denver Housing Authority,” the news outlet wrote. HUD provides approximately $440 million in taxpayer funds to Colorado’s PHAs, which oversee 38,000 leased units. These units are either public housing or covered by housing choice vouchers. Beneficiaries are typically required to contribute roughly 30% of their income toward housing.HUD is expected to require PHAs to ramp up their beneficiary vetting efforts and remove ineligible recipients. Additionally, PHAs that provide benefits to ineligible beneficiaries will be required to reimburse the misused taxpayer funds. Those who fail to comply will face additional sanctions, the Post reported.RELATED: Americans priced out while foreigners pour in: Trump admin report slams Biden for spike in rental costs Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty ImagesThe department’s findings have reportedly prompted a federal investigation into Colorado’s housing providers.“From deceased tenants to individuals receiving HUD housing benefits who were never supposed to, the Department has questions for HUD-supported housing providers in Colorado, and we expect prompt answers and enforcement action,” a HUD spokesperson told the Post.RELATED: Democrat-led city's alleged ‘race-based’ housing strategy prompts federal investigation President Donald Trump, HUD Secretary Scott Turner. Photographer: Shawn Thew/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesEarlier this week, the Washington Examiner reported that HUD sent federal investigators to Minnesota to look into potential housing fraud amid reports that $1 billion in taxpayer funds was funneled primarily to those of Somali descent.HUD launched an investigation last week into Boston’s alleged “race-based” housing program, claiming that the city’s diversity, equity, and inclusion practices may “violate civil rights protections under the Fair Housing Act and Title VI.”President Donald Trump unveiled a budget plan in May that proposed drastically cutting HUD’s discretionary funding by over 40%.Denver Housing Authority did not respond to a request for comment.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Border Patrol agents in Southern California arrested 49 illegal aliens who, despite their unlawful status, were in possession of commercial driver’s licenses, Blaze News has exclusively learned.El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested some of those individuals while conducting vehicle stops at immigration checkpoints between November 23 and December 12. Others were apprehended during a two-day interagency operation.'The individuals arrested should never have been operating these semitrucks, and the states issuing them commercial driver’s licenses are directly responsible for the fatal accidents we have tragically witnessed recently.'While stopping vehicles at checkpoints along Highway 86 and 111, Indio Station agents nabbed 42 illegal aliens who were operating semitrucks. Of these arrested individuals, 30 were from India, while the others were from El Salvador, China, Eritrea, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Russia, Somalia, Turkey, and Ukraine.Customs and Border Patrol reported that 31 of the CDLs were issued by California. The other licenses were issued by Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington.Indio Station agents also participated in Operation Highway Sentinel, an enforcement operation held on December 10 and 11, in collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.The initiative aimed to enhance the safety of America's roadways following several recent fatal accidents involving illegal alien truck drivers. RELATED: Illegal alien bus driver who can't speak English allegedly kills American while 'distracted by a video on his phone' Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty ImagesThe joint operation specifically targeted commercial trucking operations in California and resulted in the arrests of 45 illegal aliens with CDLs. The seven individuals arrested by Indio Station were from India, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.RELATED: Trump’s DOT claims 53% of New York’s non-domiciled CDLs were issued illegally Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images“El Centro Sector personnel are stalwart defenders of our nation’s security, whether that occurs at the border or in the interior of the United States,” said El Centro Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Joseph Remenar. “Since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2026, El Centro Sector’s arrests of individuals in the interior have surpassed those at the border, directly illustrating what can be accomplished when a secure border is achieved.”“The success of this operation highlights the ongoing dangers posed by the unmitigated border crisis we experienced prior to 2025,” Remenar continued. “The individuals arrested should never have been operating these semitrucks, and the states issuing them commercial driver’s licenses are directly responsible for the fatal accidents we have tragically witnessed recently. Together, with our allied partners in Homeland Security Investigations and other agencies, El Centro Sector will continue to ensure that the safety of the American public is at the forefront of our efforts.”Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A star wide receiver on the Los Angeles Rams football team has apologized for agreeing to make an anti-Semitic gesture for a touchdown celebration. During a livestream, Puka Nacua was persuaded by personality Adin Ross to perform a gesture that refers to a trope and meme meant to smear Jewish people. He also agreed to repeat the dance at the next Rams game.'At the time, I had no idea this act was antisemitic in nature and perpetrated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people.'Nacua faced an immediate barrage of criticism that led to his posting an apology on social media Thursday."When I appeared the other day on a social media livestream, it was suggested to me to perform a specific movement as part of my next touchdown celebration," wrote Nacua on his Instagram account."At the time, I had no idea this act was antisemitic in nature and perpetrated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people," he added. "I deeply apologize to anyone who was offended by my actions as I do not stand for any form of racism, bigotry or hate of another group of people."The incident comes at a time when the Jewish community is reeling from a horrific terror attack in Australia that took the lives of more than a dozen people and is being investigated as motivated by anti-Semitism.Among those who condemned Nacua was Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California."The Los Angeles Jewish community is on edge after the Bondi Beach massacre," he wrote on social media. "And what does this asshole @AsapPuka do? He promises an antisemitic touchdown dance for his Thursday night game."Swalwell added, "He should apologize or be dropped."Others said if Nacua did the gesture during the game, he should be suspended by the NFL.RELATED: Christian NFL star apologizes after reference to kids' game that left LGBTQ crowd seething The NFL and the Los Angeles Rams also released statements condemning the offensive gesture.Nacua and the Rams will play on Thursday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks. Each team has a record of 11 victories and only three losses for the season.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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