The Hemp THC Ban Is Still the Law. We’ll Make Sure It Takes Effect.

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WASHINGTON, DC — Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today responded to the House vote sending a spending bill to President Trump’s desk, which includes a delay of the federal ban on intoxicating […]

THC INC Screening in Colorado

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Colorado was the first state in the country to open the doors to a commercial marijuana industry. More than a decade later, we are bringing the film about what that […]

Senate Caves to Hemp Industry, Votes to Delay Implementation of Hemp THC BAN

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WASHINGTON, DC—Last year, a bipartisan group of 76 senators voted to close a loophole that originated in the 2018 farm bill and led to the proliferation of kid-friendly Hemp THC […]

35 State Attorneys General Urge Congress to Reject Any Effort to Delay or Weaken the Hemp THC Ban

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Washington, DC— Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today welcomed a letter from 35 state attorneys general urging congressional leaders to reject any last-minute effort to delay, repeal, suspend, or weaken the […]

Buried Provision Would Gut Hemp THC Ban Weeks After It Takes Effect

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today condemned draft Senate appropriations text that would extend the implementation of the hemp-derived THC ban until December 11. The law, initially passed […]

Marijuana Is on Track to Become America’s #1 Addiction

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For the First Time in U.S. History, More Americans Use Marijuana Daily Than Smoke Cigarettes Daily; Marijuana Use Disorder Is Now the Nation’s Second-Largest Addiction Washington, DC—For the first time […]

Guyana Ferry Disaster Is a Warning: Normalizing Marijuana Has a Body Count

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Washington, DC—At least 27 people are dead and more feared lost after a passenger ferry carrying more than 179 people capsized off the coast of Guyana over the weekend. Guyanese […]

“Those Warnings Proved Prescient”: Albany Times Union Editorial Board Concedes SAM Was Right About Legal Marijuana and New York’s Kids

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Washington, DC—The Albany Times Union editorial board – responding to a new state Department of Health report showing child cannabis poisonings in New York have doubled since 2016 — acknowledged this week that opponents […]

SAM CLOSES OUT DEA RESCHEDULING HEARING, URGES JUDGE TO PUT PUBLIC HEALTH FIRST

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ARLINGTON, VA—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today marked the conclusion of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s administrative hearing on the proposed rule to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. […]

AS HISTORIC MARIJUANA RESCHEDULING HEARING BEGINS, SAM WARNS THE STAKES FOR AMERICA’S KIDS HAVE NEVER BEEN HIGHER

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WASHINGTON, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) released the following statement as the federal hearing (DEA Hearing Docket No. 26-96) on whether to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III […]

SAM FILES PREHEARING STATEMENT AND REQUESTS SUBPOENA FOR DEA SCIENTIST AHEAD OF MARIJUANA RESCHEDULING HEARING

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WASHINGTON, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) last night filed its prehearing statement in the federal marijuana rescheduling proceeding, set to begin June 29 (SAM’s arguments are scheduled for July 6-7), […]

SAM TO PRESENT TESTIMONY AT DEA HEARING FOR MARIJUANA RESCHEDULING

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WASHINGTON, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today announced that the Drug Enforcement Administration has granted its request to participate in the upcoming administrative hearing on the proposed rule to move […]

SAM CONDEMNS SUPREME COURT RULING THAT THREATENS TO PUT MORE GUNS IN THE HANDS OF DRUG USERS 

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WASHINGTON, D.C.—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today condemns the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Hemani, which weakens 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), the federal law that has long […]

IN SPITE OF SMALL IMPROVEMENTS, SPANBERGER AND LEGISLATOR CAVE TO THE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY

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RICHMOND, VA—Last month, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger showed real courage by vetoing legislation that would have legalized commercial marijuana in Virginia. While we commended the Governor’s veto and her public […]

SAM ACTION CELEBRATES AS SENSIBLE MARIJUANA POLICY QUESTION HEADS TO MASSACHUSETTS VOTERS

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BOSTON, MA—SAM Action applauds the Massachusetts Supreme Court for its unanimous decision to allow “An Act to Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy” to appear on the statewide ballot on November […]

SAM APPLAUDS PENNSYLVANIA SENATE FOR REJECTING SB 49, THANKS PARENTS WHO MADE THEIR VOICES HEARD 

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HARRISBURG, PA—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today applauds the Pennsylvania Senate for rejecting Senate Bill 49, which failed by a 23–27 vote earlier this week. The bill would have established a new […]

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE BARS MARIJUANA PURCHASES USING WORKERS’ COMPENSATION DOLLARS, DEMANDS CDC REVIEW ON YOUTH CHS

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Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) applauds the House Appropriations Committee for advancing legislation yesterday that bars workers’ compensation funds from being used to purchase marijuana products. In a March […]

SAM APPEALS CMS HEMP PILOT RULING TO D.C. CIRCUIT

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Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today announced that it has filed a Notice of Appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, challenging a district […]

SAM CONDEMNS TRULIEVE’S NYSE LISTING AS A DARK DAY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH

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WASHINGTON, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today condemned the New York Stock Exchange’s decision to list Trulieve Cannabis—the first U.S. marijuana company to secure a spot. Trulieve’s shares are set […]

SAM APPLAUDS STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL FOR CHALLENGING FEDERAL MARIJUANA RESCHEDULING ORDER

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Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) applauds the state attorneys general from Nebraska, Louisiana, and Indiana for filing a joint legal challenge to the Administration’s final order reclassifying state-legal medical […]

SAM FILES NOTICE OF INTENT TO PARTICIPATE IN DEA RESCHEDULING HEARING

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Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) announced it has formally filed notice of its intent to participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s rescheduling hearing, scheduled to begin June 29, 2026, […]

COURT DISMISSES ON STANDING GROUNDS: SAM VOWS TO CONTINUE FIGHT AGAINST FEDERAL HEMP REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM

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Washington, DC—Today, in the District Court of Appeals of Washington, D.C., Trump-appointed Judge Trevor McFadden dismissed SAM and its co-plaintiffs’ challenge to the CMS BEI (“low dose hemp-THC”) program for […]

SAM APPLAUDS DEMOCRATIC GOV. SPANBERGER FOR HISTORIC VETO OF COMMERCIAL MARIJUANA BILL

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RICHMOND, VA—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) applauds Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, for vetoing legislation that would have opened a commercial marijuana market in the Commonwealth of Virginia. “While […]