DEA Rescheduling Clash: MMJ International says the DEA blocked its participation in the rescheduling hearing, then later had a DEA scientist testify about the same evidentiary gap—raising fresh questions about how the process is being handled. Public Health Rulemaking: Hopkinton’s Board of Health voted to ban kratom and synthetic THC product sales after a public hearing, citing safety concerns. Opioid-Use Angle: A new study in Journal of Cannabis Research reports that people using cannabis to manage unregulated opioid withdrawal reported opioid use dropping by about half. Mental Health Watch: Research links frequent marijuana use with higher morning cortisol levels, suggesting chronic use may worsen stress-response systems. Industry Policy: A bipartisan “Lawful Hemp Protection Act” is pitched as a potential national regulatory framework for hemp-derived products, including a proposed shift away from the current 0.4 mg THC standard. Medical Cannabis Growth: Georgia’s medical cannabis registrations topped 41,400 after program expansion on July 1, adding conditions and expanding product options. Potency & Withdrawal Spotlight: Sharon Stone says she got very sick for a month after quitting modern marijuana and sought neurologist care, fueling renewed debate over today’s stronger THC products. Workplace/Legal: Tesla faces a disability discrimination lawsuit tied to alleged refusal to accommodate a worker’s knee disability related to legal medical cannabis use.