Welcome back to the Unify Brief, where we track the latest developments facing our nation.
Trump administration moves to reclassify marijuana
On April 23, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the plan to move marijuana from the restrictive Schedule I to Schedule III, a category that contains drugs with lower abuse potential than Schedule I and II drugs. Schedule III drugs include those such as Tylenol with codeine and some anabolic steroids.
As of 2026, 40 states have legalized medical marijuana while only 24 have allowed recreational use. This rescheduling does not immediately impact the legalization of recreational use of marijuana. Rather, itonly reclassifies marijuana products that are FDA-approved and those that are regulated under a state medical marijuana license.
The Department of Justice also announced that the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) will hold hearings in June to look at the broader rescheduling of marijuana use.
National: Trump administration moves to ease restrictions on medical marijuana (NBC News)
Local: Federal medical marijuana rescheduling causes confusion in Colorado (The Denver Post)
What other college campuses have to say: Medical Cannabis and Student Wellness: Managing Stress, Anxiety, Sleep, and Pain the Right Way (The Daily Emerald)
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signs law banning DEI funding at local level
On April 22, Ron DeSantis signed legislation prohibiting Florida counties and cities from funding or promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This is in an attempt to stop what DeSantis defines as discrimination against certain groups of people.
DeSantis described DEI as a construct designed to promote a certain political agenda to the detriment of certain “disfavored groups.”
“The disfavored groups, No. 1, obviously, would be white males, and I think they’ve been discriminated against,” DeSantis said.
During his time in office, DeSantis has supported legislation targeting colleges and universities and prohibiting them from funding DEI initiatives. He has also supported the removal of a rainbow crosswalk in Miami Beach and a memorial crossing outside the LGBGTQ+ Pulse nightclub in Orlando, where 49 people were murdered in 2016.
This reflects broader trends across the nation of states targeting DEI funding, practices and promotion.
National: Ron DeSantis signs law blocking local Florida governments from funding DEI (The Guardian)
Local: DeSantis signs Florida law banning local DEI funding, says white men are ‘disfavored’ (Colorado Hometown Weekend)
What other college campuses have to say: UNF Pride Club decries new anti-DEI bill as ‘act of erasure’ (Spinnaker)
Senate passes budget plan that would allow Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to reopen
On April 23, the Senate voted to adopt a Republican budget that would pave the way for a $70 million increase for immigration enforcement. It would also allow DHS to reopen after being shut down due to pushback from Democrats following the fatal shootings of two protestors by federal agents in Minneapolis.
This $70 million budget would fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol for the rest of Trump’s term.
Democrats continue to call for tighter restraints on federal immigration agents. They also continue to criticize Republicans for passing a budget plan that would supercharge a federal agency, instead of focusing on Americans’ concerns regarding affordability and the cost of living.
National: Senate adopts budget resolution after marathon “vote-a-rama” as GOP moves to fund ICE without Democrats (CBS News)
Local: Senate Republicans adopt budget resolution in late-night voting marathon (Fox 31)
What other college campuses have to say: Student Travel Plans Affected by DHS Shutdown (The Eagle)
Take Action:
At DU:
- Attend a meeting for the Club for Collective Liberation
- Visit the Care Closet
On your own:
- Call your representatives
