DANVILLE, Ky. (WKYT) – President Donald Trump says he is strongly considering signing an executive order rescheduling marijuana to a lower classification.

The move would loosen federal restrictions but not fully legalize the drug.

Robert Matheny, a CBD shop owner and cannabis advocate in Kentucky for over a decade, said the proposal sounds like a positive step for the cannabis industry but doesn’t think it goes far enough.

“Initial reaction is this is a great thing and a positive step for cannabis rights — and that’s what it was made to sound like to be able to get people to laugh and cheer for it,” Matheny said.

Matheny said the president’s looming marijuana reclassification could spell bad news for Kentuckians and the industry as a whole. He said the move would put marijuana products under pharmaceutical control and potentially drive-up prices.

“This puts a big profit margin in for the pharmaceutical industry, and this is a giant gift to from our legislators and our president right now to the pharmaceutical industry,” Matheny said.

Matheny advocates for full marijuana decriminalization, a stance that goes a step further than the one publicly supported by Governor Andy Beshear.

In a July letter to President Trump, Beshear advocated in favor of rescheduling marijuana. In the letter, he said making the rules less restrictive would provide access to cannabis for treatment and allow more research.

The federal government currently classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug. That classification places it alongside other drugs such as heroin and LSD.

If classified as Schedule III, it would be placed alongside drugs the DEA says have a moderate-to-low potential for physical and psychological dependence such as ketamine and testosterone.

Matheny said even if someone is caught with a Schedule III drug, someone could still be in trouble.

“It’s still a drug. It’s still a pharmacy. If you get caught with over-the-counter pain pills it is still the same as getting caught with fentanyl you got a drug,” Matheny said.

Matthew Bratcher of Kentucky NORML is another marijuana advocate who agrees with Matheny and says legislators should go a step further.

Bratcher said while a meaningful step forward, people would not see full clarity or fairness until cannabis is fully declassified. The longtime cannabis advocate said he will watch to see what is done in Washington.

It’s unclear when Trump will sign the executive order.

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Collins, a 6-foot-8, 200-pound forward from Bellflower, California, is widely regarded as one of the premier frontcourt prospects in the country. His blend of athleticism, scoring ability, and defensive versatility made him a major priority for Kentucky head coach Mark Pope and his staff as they work to build future recruiting classes.

According to Jacob Polacheck of KSR, Collins’ recruitment is being heavily influenced by NIL structure and contract details, a growing trend at the top of the recruiting landscape. That reality was addressed publicly earlier this month by Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart during Will Stein’s introductory press conference as the Wildcats’ new football head coach.

Barnhart pushed back strongly against the perception that Kentucky is at an NIL disadvantage, saying, “Enough about ‘have we got enough?’ We’ve got enough.” He also emphasized that Kentucky will not compromise its standards to land recruits. “We’ve got to do it the right way,” Barnhart said. “We’re not going to break the rules. That’s flat-out.”

While Kentucky no longer holds a crystal ball prediction for Collins, the Wildcats are not out of the race. However, his recruitment now appears far more fluid, underscoring the increasingly complex balance between elite talent, NIL expectations, and long-term program philosophy in modern college basketball.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Demetrus Liggins announced Tuesday he will recommend keeping The Stables alternative school at its current location through the end of next school year.

The school is located within the Kentucky Horse Park and allows students to work with horses while learning in a smaller setting. FCPS’ “Project Right Size Bright Futures” initiative had been considering terminating the facility contract over efficiency reasons.

Parents like Jennifer Boling understand the implications of the decision after seeing what the program did for her two children.

“It’s just changed their complete life around. Neither one of them trusted adults before,” Boling said.

The district’s Right Size Bright Futures committee had been looking at cutting the school’s facility contract with the nonprofit Central Kentucky Riding for Hope. Liggins acknowledged Tuesday that while the program is costly, it is worthwhile.

Liggins said he wants to promote the work being done to find partnerships to help continue the program’s long-term viability.

School Board Chair Tyler Murphy told WKYT he was excited to hear about Liggins’ recommendation ahead of Thursday’s board meeting.

“They do incredible work. The passion around that work is very meaningful and powerful. It’s important because they are truly leaving an impact on every child that goes through their doors,” Murphy said.

The leader of the school’s partnering agency shares in Murphy’s excitement.

“Elated that there’s been a response and gratified that people took time to listen to the story of our participants,” said Pat Kline, executive director of Central Kentucky Riding for Hope.

Boling said while she is more optimistic than before, she needs to see results.

“I want to see them actually follow through and not just be words,” Boling said.

According to Liggins, the Stables program costs the school district about $1.1 million. A majority of that comes from personnel, he said.

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