Kevin Sabet

(Dover, Delaware) Today, days after strong advocacy by SAM and its allies, Governor John Carney (D) issued a veto on House Bill 371, a bill that would have drastically expanded marijuana commercialization in the state. “This was Governor Carney’s Big Tobacco moment–and he did the right thing,” said Patrick J. Kennedy, Smart Approaches to Marijuana Co-Founder and Honorary […]

(Washington, D.C.) – According to multiple media outlets, Joseph R. Biden, Jr. has secured more than 270 Electoral College votes and is now officially the president-elect. Accordingly, Dr. Kevin Sabet — president and co-founder of the non-partisan organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and a former senior drug policy advisor to the Obama Administration — […]

By Rosa Goldensohn 08/31/2018 06:21 AM EDT A national marijuana policy activist is seeking to stem budding legalization efforts in New York, with high hopes of smoking out an industry that he says is bogarting the conversation. Kevin Sabet, who founded the group Smart Approaches to Marijuana with former Rep. Patrick Kennedy after Colorado legalized […]

SAM STATEMENT ON COVID-19 COVID-19 has rapidly spread throughout the world and though there is some confusion about the details of the disease and its spread, one thing is certain: there are populations within the United States that are particularly vulnerable. Among these vulnerable populations, reports the National Institutes on Health and National Institute on […]

More details soon, but check out this time-lapse of our staff putting up our new sign at a soon-to-be opened new office! And if you want to apply to any of the several new openings, tell us!  

Annual Survey of Students Shows Marijuana Significantly Use Up Among Grades 8, 10, & 12 versus 2016; Virtually All Other Substances Decreasing First Increase in Seven Years; Monitoring the Future Survey Also Shows Twice the Percentage of Students in Medical Marijuana States Consume Pot Edibles; Vaping Also Higher (December 14, 2017 – Alexandria, VA) – The […]

Today, a wide coalition of hundreds of organizations representing former and current federal, state, and local officials, hundreds of community-based organizations, and tens of thousands of people working in drug prevention, drug treatment, drug treatment courts, mental health, recovery, medicine, law enforcement, and millions of individuals in recovery, sent a letter to OMB Director Mick […]

SAM Action Statement on 2016 Election Arizona defeats legalization, but California, Nevada, and Massachusetts pass legalization; Maine too close to call; Local pushback in Oregon is strong; Anti-legalization governor in VT is elected   SAM will launch $1M+ Marijuana Accountability Project   (Alexandria, VA) — Tonight, Arizona resisted legalization, but deep pocketed pro-marijuana investors prevailed […]

SAM Action Statement on California Proposition 64 and Massachusetts Question 4 Results Legalization passes in California and Massachusetts;  SAM will launch $1M+ Marijuana Accountability Project November 9, 2016 12:05 AM EST Contact: SAM Public Affairs Email: [email protected] Tonight, SAM Action President Kevin Sabet made the following statement about legalization passing in California and Massachusetts: “We […]

 Big Win for “No on 64” Campaign as California Court Rules Against Pro-Legalization Campaign Claims   Court says Proposition 64 could roll back ban on smoking ads on TV; forces pro-legalization campaign to change incorrect claim that pot use among minors had decreased in states that have legalized marijuana   [Alexandria, VA] – The campaign […]

Today, multiple news outlets quoted SAM after the DEA announcement denying the rescheduling of marijuana and increasing research opportunities. DEA Administrator Chuck Rosenberg, in an unprecedented move, wrote a lengthy letter to the Governors of Washington and Rhode Island explaining the Administration’s decision. More news coverage from today: Obama Administration Set to Remove Barrier to […]

Legalized Marijuana States Excluded From State Level CDC Survey; National Level Survey Consistent with Prior Studies   Legalized states of Colorado, Oregon, and Washington are not included in statewide results of Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System study; Colorado still top youth marijuana using state in the country   [WASHINGTON, DC] – The new 2015 state-level Centers for […]

Earlier this week, the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP), released a study that claims a 24 percent decline in marijuana-related problems among teenagers, such as becoming dependent on the drug or having trouble in school and in relationships. The researchers also claim there is an association between drops in problems […]

More Black and Hispanic youth arrested for marijuana after Colorado legalization   Pot-related arrests of Black youth jump 58%; arrests of Hispanic kids rise 29% May 20, 2016   [WASHINGTON, DC] – A recent report from the Colorado Department of Public Safety reveals that marijuana-related arrests of Black and Hispanic youth increased sharply in the two […]

Marijuana Legalization Fails in Vermont House of Representatives   In a key victory over marijuana lobbying money, public health advocates defeat legalization and commercialization push   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 3, 2016   Contact: Jeffrey Zinsmeister [email protected] +1 (415) 680-3993   [MONTPELIER, VT] – A coalition of public health advocates in Vermont defeated a legislative marijuana legalization effort […]

Statement from SAM Canada on the Canadian Statement to the UN General Assembly on April 20, 2016 Contact Pamela McColl [email protected] www.learnaboutsam.ca We are greatly disappointed that Canada used its precious time on the global stage to promote the legalization – and thus commercialization – of cannabis. This statement sent a powerful message from our […]

STATEMENT ON GEORGIA VICTORY: For the past several months the majority of Let’s Be Clear Georgia activity has focused on “medical” marijuana legislation in the Georgia General Assembly. Let’s Be Clear Georgia’s over 300 collaborative members, staff and board, partnering with National Families in Action, the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia (PACG), the Faith and Freedom Coalition of Georgia, […]

Statement from SAM Honorary Advisor  Patrick J. Kennedy and SAM President Kevin Sabet Today, former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, SAM Honorary Advisor, and SAM President Kevin Sabet released a statement on the hearing today held by the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, “Is the Department of Justice Adequately Protecting the Public from the Impact of […]

Statement for the record from SAM KEVIN SABET Today I am speaking on behalf of multiple civil society organizations in the Drug Policy Futures network, including SAM, Smart Approaches to Marijuana, in opposition to some member states’ legalization of psychoactive drugs. These actions violate the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, and threaten international […]

Let’s Be Clear GA, National Families in Action, and Partner Organizations Severely Limit “Medical” Marijuana Bill in Georgia   Coalition pared down original 24-page “medical” marijuana bill to seven pages-eliminating, among other provisions, in-state cultivation; in-state dispensaries; unlimited THC % with no cap (instead of a 5% limit)   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 3, 2016 […]

GAO Calls Out DOJ for Not Documenting Plan to Monitor Marijuana Legalization Outcomes   Justice Department officials told investigators that they “they did not see a benefit” in documenting marijuana monitoring activities   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 1, 2016   Contact: Jeffrey Zinsmeister [email protected] +1 (415) 680-3993   [WASHINGTON, DC] – Giving substance to the saying, […]

Today, Dr. Madeline Meier, Professor at Arizona State University, commented on two studies (here and here ) regarding IQ and marijuana use. Dr. Meier stands firm by her previous research showing an up to 8-point reduction in IQ among heavy marijuana users. Her statement is here: “Unfortunately for your headline writers, there is no controversy here.  Our […]

JOURNAL PRINTS CORRECTION: MARIJUANA USE LINKED WITH 2.5-FOLD INCREASE IN PSYCHOSIS Psychology of Addictive Behaviors journal makes corrections, SAM calls on media to correct stories   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 19, 2016   Contact: Jeffrey Zinsmeister [email protected] +1 (415) 680-3993   [WASHINGTON, DC] – A prominent journal article about marijuana and health which resulted in media […]

VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RELEASES SCATHING REPORT ON MARIJUANA’S HEALTH IMPACTS AS LEGISLATURE MULLS LEGALIZATION – PREDICTS 12th GRADE MARIJUANA USE TO INCREASE BY 10% IF VERMONT LEGALIZED MARIJUANA The report also predicts a near 30% increase in emergency room visits due to marijuana if the state legalizes FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2015 Contact: […]