SAM’s News

Those who have been following the legalization of marijuana have likely heard the familiar industry refrain that commercializing the drugs will generate a mound of tax revenue for state governments starved for cash. As legal weed marks a decade, the data tells a much different tale. This trend is not unique to Colorado, as marijuana […]

Opponents of legalization like John Daviau, the director of state affairs for the nonprofit Smart Approaches to Marijuana, pointed to several concerns. “You’re going to see a 17% increase in substance abuse disorders. You’re going to see a 35% increase in chronic homelessness,” Daviau said. “And a 13% increase in arrests across the state.” READ/WATCH: […]

The Data are CLEAR: Drugs Aren’t Social Justice, Won’t Bring Tax Revenue HARRISBURG, PA) – Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action (SAM Action) President Dr. Kevin Sabet, a former White House drug policy advisor to Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton, released the following statement today in response to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s budget, which proposes opening […]

On Anniversary of Legal THC Drug Sales, SAM Calls for State Leaders to Act to Protect Young People (JEFFERSON CITY, MO) – Dr. Kevin Sabet, President of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and a former White House drug policy advisor to Presidents Obama, Bush, and Clinton, released the following statement in advance of the one-year anniversary of […]

Resolution Introduced in the Senate by Senator Pete Ricketts and in the House by Rep. Pete Sessions  Highlights Risks Associated with the Commercial Marijuana Industry’s Addictive High-Potency Pot Products (WASHINGTON, DC) – In a first-of-its-kind move, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) have filed a Concurrent Congressional Resolution outlining the dangers […]

Kevin Sabet, an anti-pot campaigner and former White House drug tsar, not only blames the marijuana she smoked, but also the $30 billion-a-year business behind it. ‘Big Weed’ is pushing ever more potent versions of pot’s active ingredient, THC, on a generation of unsuspecting Americans, he warns. ‘The marijuana industry’s lies and misinformation are directly to blame […]

“The debate over Measure 110, passed in 2020, was framed as “treatment over incarceration” for drug offenders. It seems all of us have now learned how wrong this framing was. What appeared to be a constructive debate about finding a better response to drug use was in fact a ballot measure that made drug use a […]

“What we’re seeing in legal states is that the black market for marijuana continues to beat the legal market,” said drug policy expert and Vice President of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, Luke Niforatos. It’s legal to grow weed in the state of Maine – you can actually grow about 3 mature plants but border patrol […]

Legislators Urged to Further Reform the State’s Program to Protect Public Health and Safety (HARTFORD, CT) – Dr. Kevin Sabet, President of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and a former drug policy advisor to Presidents Obama, Bush, and Clinton, released the following statement in advance of the one-year anniversary of commercial marijuana sales in Connecticut:  “Trends across the nation […]

The past two years have industry insiders wondering how to get business booming again, while those against the industry want more regulations.  “We saw the marijuana sales and consumption skyrocket during COVID-19, why was that, well we saw addiction levels to all substances skyrocket during COVID-19 because of isolation, because of mental health challenges and […]

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Voters legalized marijuana use in 2012. Today, the industry has more than 2,500 active cannabis business licenses, including 912 retail establishment licenses. In addition, some 36,000 active occupational licenses have been issued to workers in the industry. Luke Niforatos of Smart Approaches to Marijuana characterized the drug’s legalization as a disaster for the state.  “We […]

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) President Dr. Kevin Sabet, a former White House drug policy advisor to Presidents Obama, Bush, and Clinton, today released the following statement in response to President Joseph Biden’s proclamation pardoning individuals who committed or were convicted of the offense of simple possession of marijuana: “Today, President Biden continues his […]

Efforts to prevent drug use and encourage kids to live free from drugs have come under increased attack. Rather than building on science and common sense, some have begun advocating for an unproven approach to prevention that aims to not prevent drug use at all—instead it educates children on how to use drugs. Policymakers should […]

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Protect Our Kids CEO Luke Niforatos discusses growing concerns among parents and medical workers over children’s exposure to hemp-driven products. Watch HERE

Federal guidance conflicts with state authorization – AT THIS LINK By Rosie Manins and Helena Oliviero In a major blow to expanding access to medical cannabis in Georgia, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration has warned pharmacies across the state that dispensing medical marijuana violates federal law. The warning comes just after the state became the first in the nation to […]

Former U.S. Attorneys Cite Greater Potency of Today’s THC Drugs, Rise in the Illicit Market and Cartel Activity Following State-Initiated Legalization (WASHINGTON, DC) – More than two dozen former U.S. Attorneys from across the nation, who served under Republican and Democratic administrations, have authored a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) […]

8th and 12th Graders In “Legal” States More Likely To Use Psychoactive Drugs (WASHINGTON, DC) – In another buzz kill for the pot industry, the annual Monitoring the Future (MTF) Survey conducted by the University of Michigan and funded by the National Institutes of Health, shows marijuana use among minors is worsening in states with commercial markets […]

State Senate’s Legislation a Good First Step, Enhancements Needed (COLUMBUS, OH) – As the Ohio legislature debates how the state will implement commercial sales of marijuana and THC drug products, Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action (SAM Action) President Dr. Kevin Sabet, a former White House drug policy advisor to Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton, is […]

Listen, HERE.

STATES 2.0 Act Would Put Nation’s Addiction Crisis on Steroids (WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, Representatives Dave Joyce (OH-14), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), Brian Mast (FL-21), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), and Troy Carter (LA-02) introduced reckless legislation that would legalize unlimited potency concentrates and kid-friendly pot gummies at the federal level. Dr. Kevin Sabet, a former White House […]

While marijuana has been legal in Colorado for more than a decade, the drug is still illegal at the federal level. That is not likely to change anytime soon, but the federal government is considering reclassifying the drug, which could have big implications in several areas, including cannabis-related businesses in Colorado. “Right now, they’re looking like […]