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Regulatory body will likely be slow to roll-out implementation, local opposition will continue [Augusta, ME] – Today, SAM and SAM Maine released this statement on the Maine Legislature’s vote to override Governor LePage’s veto on a bill legalizing marijuana. Bill 1719 will now become law, but it is unlikely that Governor LePage will push to […]

A big thank you to everyone who made the trip to Atlanta, GA for our 5th Annual Smart Approaches to Marijuana Summit! As SAM Founder and President Dr. Kevin Sabet said during his opening remarks, those who are standing up and pushing back against the commercialization and normalization of marijuana are on the right side […]

[Washington, DC] – Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) officials, including a former Congressman and the nation’s first African-American magistrate judge, joined members of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus, faith-based leaders, researchers from the National Institutes of Health, and other public health and safety experts at a press conference warning about the dangers of marijuana and […]

Today, the day before the unofficial “marijuana holiday,” Healthy and Productive Illinois (HPIL) – a project of Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action (SAM Action) – released a comprehensive working paper on the projected costs of legalization in Illinois, finding that legalization would cost the state $670.5 million, far outweighing estimated tax revenue projections of approximately $566 million. The report will be released […]

Contact: Colton Grace Colton@learnaboutsam.org (864) 492-6719 [Alexandria, VA] – Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) issued the following statement from SAM President Dr. Kevin Sabet in response to a reported deal between President Donald Trump and Senator Cory Gardner to protect Colorado’s marijuana industry from federal law:   “This discussion is far from over. In the […]

[Alexandria, VA] – Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) issued the following statement from SAM President Dr. Kevin Sabet in response to two new studies that purport to show marijuana legalization as an aid to the opioid epidemic:   “These studies fall into the same logical fallacy as other similar studies. First, they do not show directly that […]

Elizabeth, NJ — Today, New Jersey Responsible Approaches to Marijuana and Smart Approaches to Marijuana officials will testify at a New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus hearing on marijuana legalization. WHO: New Jersey Responsible Approaches to Marijuana Policy (NJ-RAMP) Coalition Members, including: Kevin Sabet, PhD., President of SAM and NJ affiliate NJ-RAMP, former drug policy advisor […]

(Alexandria, VA) – Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) Founder and President Dr. Kevin A. Sabet released the following statement in response to the release of the text of the Fiscal Year 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Act: “SAM Action and its partners in public health, research, law enforcement, drug prevention, family, treatment and recovery made significant progress […]

Dramatic Increases in Fatal Drugged Driving Crashes, Workplace Accidents, Arrest Rates, Black Market Activity in States That Have Legalized Marijuana  (Alexandria, VA) – Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), the leading, nonpartisan U.S. organization offering a science-based approach to marijuana policy, released the most comprehensive study to date today entitled: Lessons from Marijuana Legalization in […]

These Legislators are Putting Profits Before Public Health (Denver, CO) – Today, The Marijuana Accountability Coalition (MAC) unveiled the results of the “Brought to You by the Pot Industry” campaign. This campaign sought to expose the top recipients of money from the pot industry as it works to become the next Big Tobacco. These lawmakers […]

Poll presents voters with only two options on marijuana policy, contradicted by Mason-Dixon poll. CHICAGO – Today, the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute released a poll of Illinois voters that purports to show overwhelming support for the legalization of marijuana. The poll shows that 66% of voters in the state were supportive of the legalization […]

NorthJersey.com reports: Sabet, an author, consultant, and former adviser to three U.S. presidential administrations, is taking part in a statewide effort to push for responsible marijuana policies. He said the marijuana industry has the potential to be the next Big Tobacco — “another legal industry that relies on addiction for profits.” He argued that when companies are […]

  SAM Launches National Campaign “High Means DUI” to Raise Awareness on the Harms of Driving While High and Support Pro-Active Legislation                              Local Contact: Dana Stevens 760-317-6716 National Contact: press@learnaboutsam.org (SAN DIEGO) – SAM, Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a 501 c-3 nonprofit […]

Legislation would have permitted pot clubs and could have allowed minors inside retail pot shops   November 3, 2017   CONTACT: SAM Action Press Office info@samaction.net Alexandria, VA – Leading national marijuana policy group Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action (SAM Action), fresh off an open letter campaign to Governor Paul LePage, is applauding the governor today for vetoing […]

SAM and partners have been urging action;  FDA sends warning letters to four companies today   (Alexandria, Va., November 1, 2017) – Today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it was sending warning letters to companies illegally selling marijuana products with unsubstantiated medical claims. SAM and its partners have written to FDA numerous times over […]

Last week, SAM President Dr. Kevin Sabet traveled to Ottawa to testify to Canada’s House of Commons Standing Committee on Health. Dr. Sabet voiced concern about marijuana legalization in Canada, highlighting the negative public health and safety consequences of marijuana legalization in U.S. states like Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. Prior to giving testimony, Dr. Sabet […]

National Survey Shows Soaring Marijuana Use Among All Americans 12 and Older; Heavy Use Also on the Rise National survey highlights jump in pot use among young adults in era of marijuana legalization; Almost twice as many adolescents regularly use marijuana than cigarettes   (Alexandria, Va., September 7, 2017) – Every day, 7,000 new people […]

Last month, SAM launched a new ad campaign in New Jersey called “Broken Promises” highlighting the false promise that marijuana legalization would solve social justice issues. The ads (below) ran online and in two New Jersey publications. Read NJ.com’s coverage of our efforts here, and find additional coverage from WOBM Radio here. SAM President Kevin Sabet […]

SAM Statement Regarding The Denver Post’s New Stoned Driving Analysis Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), the leading nonprofit, nonpartisan group dedicated to advancing evidence-based marijuana laws in the U.S., issued the following statement from SAM President Dr. Kevin Sabet in response to The Denver Post’s new analysis indicating the number of marijuana-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes […]

SAM Executive Vice President Jeff Zinsmeister went live with NPR’s AirTalk yesterday for a discussion of drug policy guidance under the new Justice Department. Listen to the full conversation here.

SAM Executive Vice President Jeff Zinsmeister penned an article debunking marijuana myths for Workforce Magazine. Read Jeff’s piece advising HR executives of best practices in the new legal marijuana environment here.

SAM President Kevin Sabet is profiled in Westword as “USA’s Most Influential Critic of Marijuana Legalization.” Read why he says the costs of legalization are outweighing benefits, and how SAM became an organization that takes cues from science here.

SAM President Kevin Sabet went live with NPR’s Tom Ashbrook for Tuesday’s “On Point” marijuana piece, discussing federal guidance and common-sense approaches to marijuana policy. Listen here.

On Monday, SAM held a press call for Nevada media, urging Nevada regulators to slow down, consider the consequences of legal pot in other states like Colorado, and implement safeguards. We were featured in news outlets including Nevada Public Radio and The Nevada Independent.