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Hello and welcome to your afternoon news update from The Associated Press. Today, in a historic shift, President Donald Trump reclassified state-licensed medical marijuana as less dangerous, while also issuing a “shoot and kill” order against Iranian small boats in the Strait of Hormuz. Plus, Warner Bros shareholders gave their stamp of approval to Paramount's $81 billion takeover that could vastly reshape the U.S. media landscape.

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Shown is marijuana at NJ Weedman's Joint dispensary in Trenton, N.J., on Thursday. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Trump reclassifies state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug in a historic shift

President Donald Trump’s acting attorney general on Thursday signed an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug, a major policy shift long sought by advocates who said cannabis should never have been treated like heroin by the federal government. The order signed by Todd Blanche does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under federal law, but it does change the way it’s regulated. Read more.

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Trump orders US military to ‘shoot and kill’ Iranian small boats choking Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. military to “shoot and kill” small Iranian boats that deploy mines in the Strait of Hormuz, he said Thursday, a day after Iran again displayed its ability to thwart traffic through the channel. Trump’s post on social media came shortly after the U.S. military seized another tanker associated with the smuggling of Iranian oil, ratcheting up a standoff with Tehran over the strait through which 20% of all crude oil and natural gas traded passes. Read more.

Warner Bros shareholders approve Paramount’s $81 billion takeover of the Hollywood giant

An $81 billion Warner-Paramount mega merger has received shareholders’ stamp of approval, propelling a deal that could vastly reshape Hollywood and the wider media landscape closer to the finish line. Skydance-owned Paramount wants to buy all of Warner. That means HBO Max, cult-favorite titles like “Harry Potter” and even CNN could soon find themselves under the same roof with CBS, “Top Gun” and the Paramount+ streaming service. Read more.