July 2026 Cannabis Review: Rescheduling Hearings Wrap Up as Utah's Program Hits New Milestones
July was a month of waiting and momentum. At the federal level, the DEA's historic rescheduling hearing came to a close — leaving the biggest question in cannabis policy in the hands of regulators as they weigh the evidence. Here at home, Utah's medical cannabis program quietly posted some of its strongest numbers ever and took a meaningful step toward improving access for rural patients. Here's what mattered most this month for Utah's medical cannabis community.
Utah's Medical Cannabis Program Keeps Growing
More patients than ever. Utah's medical cannabis program now serves 116,177 patients with active cards as of the start of August — up from 115,472 at the beginning of July and roughly 107,890 at the end of 2025. That's more than 8,200 Utahns who have joined the program in just the first seven months of the year, continuing the steady month-over-month growth the program has posted since launch. Behind each of those numbers is a patient who sat down with a qualified medical provider and chose a safe, regulated, medical pathway — exactly what Utah's program was built for. The growth tells a simple story: when patients have real access, they use it.
A new pharmacy for underserved Utah. State regulators announced they are accepting applications for a new independent medical cannabis pharmacy to be located in a rural or medically underserved area. This is the second of two independent pharmacies required under House Bill 54, passed by the Legislature in 2025. The application window runs from August 3 through September 2. For patients in rural Utah who currently drive an hour or more to reach the nearest pharmacy, this is welcome news — access shouldn't depend on your zip code.
Reminder on 2026 law changes. A few patient-friendly updates from this year's legislative session are now in effect: patients can use tribal government-issued photo ID to enroll in the program and purchase medical cannabis, and caregivers and guardians no longer need to undergo a background check. Looking ahead, oversight of the program will transition from the Department of Health and Human Services to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food by January 1, 2027. Details are on the Center for Medical Cannabis website.
The DEA's Rescheduling Hearing Concludes
The formal hearing on moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III — which began June 29 at DEA headquarters — wrapped up on July 15. Participants now have the opportunity to submit post-hearing briefs and closing arguments before a recommendation is made, with a final decision expected in late 2026 or early 2027.
Important context for Utah patients: FDA-approved cannabis medications and cannabis products sold under state medical programs like Utah's are already in Schedule III, thanks to the Acting Attorney General's order issued back in April. The current hearing concerns the broader reclassification of cannabis as a whole. Whatever the outcome, the federal government's acknowledgment that medical cannabis has legitimate therapeutic value is already on the books — a validation of what Utah patients have known for years.
That said, the path forward isn't without friction. During his Senate confirmation process in July, Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche — the same official who signed the April order — declined to commit to rescheduling beyond medical use, saying only that he would give the matter "careful consideration" if confirmed. It's a reminder that the administration's focus remains squarely on medical cannabis — which makes protecting the integrity of state medical programs like ours all the more important.
Senate Democrats Push for Full Legalization
Not everyone in Washington thinks rescheduling goes far enough. On July 16, Senators Cory Booker, Chuck Schumer, and Ron Wyden — joined by 14 co-sponsors — reintroduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, which would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act entirely, leave regulation to the states, and open banking access for the industry. The bill faces long odds in the current Congress, but it keeps the descheduling conversation alive as the DEA deliberates.
What the Numbers Say: Cannabis Use in America
Two federal reports released in late July are worth noting:
For the first time, daily or near-daily cannabis use has surpassed both daily drinking and daily cigarette smoking among American adults — 21.4 million daily cannabis consumers versus 19.9 million cigarette smokers and 17.2 million daily drinkers, according to SAMHSA's 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
At the same time, a federal study found that teen cannabis use continues to decline as more states adopt regulated legal markets — undercutting one of the most persistent arguments against reform.
Together, these findings reinforce what advocates have long argued: regulated access doesn't drive youth use up, and millions of Americans are turning to cannabis as an alternative to alcohol and tobacco.
Around the Region
Utah's neighbors offer a study in contrasts. In Wyoming, Attorney General Keith Kautz formally blocked the state-level rescheduling of cannabis that would otherwise have been automatically triggered by the federal reclassification, keeping cannabis in Schedule I under Wyoming law. Meanwhile in Georgia, an expanded medical cannabis law that took effect July 1 immediately produced a surge in patient registrations — the registry jumped more than 22% in about a month. Proof that when barriers come down, patients show up.
The Bottom Line for Utah Patients
July delivered steady, encouraging progress. Utah's program is serving more patients than ever, access is expanding into underserved communities, and the federal government's recognition of medical cannabis is now firmly established — even as the broader rescheduling question remains open. As post-hearing briefs are filed and the DEA weighs its decision this fall, our job stays the same: keep Utah's medical cannabis program strong, accessible, and focused on patients.
