General
SAM Calls on State Governors to Close Marijuana Stores to Mitigate COVID-19 Harms
Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), released the following statement urging state governors to close marijuana storefronts in attempts to both prevent the spread of COVID-19 and help mitigate potential harms to public health: “We are in contact with numerous governors across the country and have a simple message for them: […]
COVID-19 and Marijuana: What You Need to Know
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 […]
House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Marks Up Medical Marijuana Bills
Today, the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee marked up and voted on two bills related to veterans and marijuana: one sponsored by Representative Lou Correa (D-CA) on expanding research on marijuana and its components to find new FDA-approved medicines, and another sponsored by Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) that would allow VA doctors to issue medical marijuana […]
Boston’s First Marijuana Store Opens; Highlights Failure of Promises of Social Equity
Today, the first marijuana storefront in Boston, Massachusetts opens its doors. The marijuana storefront opens roughly a year and a half since “legal” sales began in Massachusetts. Notably, the store is the first to be opened as a part of the state’s social equity program. Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana […]
Vermont House Approves Bill Instituting Commercial Marijuana Sales; Public Health and Safety Groups Urge Governor Phil Scott to Veto
After several years of forceful lobbying by the marijuana industry, a bill to approve the commercial sales of marijuana was narrowly passed by the Vermont House of Representatives. Public health and safety experts from Vermont and across the nation now turn to Governor Phil Scott in the hope that he will veto the bill. The […]
Doctors, Educators, Parents, and Medical Professionals in “Legal” Marijuana States Request Meeting with Governor Andrew Cuomo
In response to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s announcement he will visit legalized marijuana states, SAM led a coalition letter to Governor Cuomo requesting a meeting to discuss key issues related to marijuana. The letter, signed by medical professionals, educators, scientific researchers, prevention and substance abuse workers, individuals in recovery, and parents, invites the governor to speak […]
Doctors, Educators, Parents, and Medical Professionals in “Legal” Marijuana States Request Meeting with Governor Andrew Cuomo
Today, responding to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s announcement he will visit legalized marijuana states, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), the leading non-profit organization opposed to the expansion of the marijuana industry, led a coalition letter to Governor Cuomo requesting a meeting to discuss key issues related to marijuana. The letter, signed by medical professionals, educators, scientific […]
SAM Launches New Resource Exposing Addiction Investments in Big Marijuana
Today, as a part of its ongoing effort to expose Big Tobacco and other predatory industries rushing to take over the commercial marijuana industry, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) released a new webpage focused on laying out the many investments made into Big Marijuana from addiction-for-profit conglomerates, as well as highlighting the former federal lawmakers […]
Poll Finds Majority of Voters in Long Island Senate Districts Oppose Marijuana Commercialization
An Emerson College poll of the six New York State Senate Districts of Long Island found that 64.6 percent of constituents of Senators Monica Martinez, James Gaughran, Kevin Thomas, Anna Kaplan, John Brooks, and Todd Kaminsky support polices other than marijuana commercialization when presented with the full spectrum of options. All told, only 35% of […]
SAM Launches “Towns and Cities Initiative”
Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), the leading national non-profit group dedicated to opposing the commercial, addiction-for-profit marijuana industry, announced the expansion of its efforts to assist local communities in pushing back against marijuana commercialization. SAM’s “Towns and Cities Initiative” will help localities opt-out of marijuana stores, assist with complex legal and zoning issues, and […]
Twelve Members of the U.S. House of Representatives Thank Senator Mike Crapo For Putting Public Health Considerations Ahead of Marijuana Banking Push
Today, twelve members of the United States House of Representatives sent a letter to Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) thanking him for addressing public health concerns in the consideration over the SAFE Banking Act, a bill to grant the marijuana industry access to the federal financial system. “We understand you have received significant […]
New Mexico Marijuana Legalization Bill Defeated in Senate Judiciary; Health and Safety Groups Claim Victory
Today, a bill to legalize marijuana and establish a commercial market for the drug failed to garner enough votes for passage in the New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee. This tremendous victory for public health follows a year-long push by the marijuana industry to pass a bill largely written by the industry and its investors. A […]
New Emerson College Poll Finds 70 Percent of Vermont Voters Oppose Commercialized Marijuana Market
According to a new poll conducted by Emerson College, 70 percent of Vermont voters do not support the commercialization and taxation of marijuana. This poll’s importance is significant to state lawmakers as the marijuana industry has renewed its annual push to expand into the state, which allows for possession of the drug, but has no […]
New DEA Report: Marijuana Legalization Benefits Criminal Drug Traffickers
A comprehensive report released by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) finds that the illicit marijuana market is increasing in states that have “legalized” the substance; growing operations—that often occur on public lands—present a significant draw on resources and a dramatic threat to local environments; and criminal organizations are using revenue from marijuana production […]
Benchmark Youth Drug Use Survey Finds Marijuana Vaping Has Doubled, Daily Use Significantly Increased
Daily marijuana use and marijuana vaping has significantly increased in the last year according to new data from the largest, most comprehensive drug use survey of students in the United States. The 2019 Monitoring the Future survey, compiled by researchers at the University of Michigan and funded by the National Institutes of Health, is the […]
Policy Groups Send Coalition Letter Thanking Senator Mike Crapo for Slowing Marijuana Banking Legislation
A broad coalition of national and state policy groups sent a letter to United States Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) expressing their concerns with the SAFE Banking Act and thanking Senator Crapo for slowing down what seemed at first to be a rushed process to grant the marijuana industry access to the federal banking system. “In […]
New Study: Marijuana Impaired Traffic Deaths Doubled in Washington State Following Legalization
Today, a new study released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found the percentage of drivers in Washington State involved in fatal car crashes testing positive for marijuana has doubled since the state “legalized” marijuana for recreational use in 2012. “Marijuana-impaired driving is rising across all states that have ‘legalized’ marijuana and this study […]
Coalition of New Mexico Groups Urge Lawmakers to Oppose Marijuana Legalization
A coalition of public health and safety groups, business coalitions, and representatives of New Mexico state law enforcement gathered in the Capitol Rotunda to host a press conference urging lawmakers to oppose the passage of any legislation legalizing and commercializing recreational marijuana. “As a Coloradan, I can speak firsthand as to the results of marijuana […]
Constituents of NYS Senator Pete Harckham Urge Him to Oppose Marijuana Legalization
A group of concerned New Yorkers gathered in front of NYS Senator Pete Harckham’s District Office to host a press conference urging Senator Harckham to join the majority of public health and safety organizations in NYS and oppose the passage of any bill creating a commercial marijuana industry in New York. This gathering, led by […]
Virginia Substance Abuse Groups and Law Enforcement Urge Lawmakers to Oppose Marijuana Legalization
Representatives from public health and law enforcement groups gathered at the Virginia General Assembly Building in Richmond to host a press conference urging lawmakers to oppose the passage of any legislation legalizing and commercializing recreational marijuana in the Commonwealth of Virginia. “Marijuana legalization efforts and the rhetoric surrounding them send a dangerous message to the […]
Emerson College Poll Finds Majority of New Mexico Voters Do Not Support Marijuana Legalization
A poll conducted by Emerson College found 63% of New Mexico voters are opposed to the full legalization of marijuana when given a full spectrum of policy options. Additionally, the poll found that when voters learn that the marijuana industry features large investments from Big Tobacco and alcohol conglomerates and that legalized states have experienced […]
CDC DATA: Over 130 Cases of Vaping Illness Victims Purchased Products Exclusively From “Commercial Sources”
Today, in a massive release of data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it has been confirmed that out of 809 patients reporting data on the source of the marijuana products use prior to becoming sick, 131 reported purchasing products exclusively from commercial sources. What’s more, 627 reported products from “informal sources” such as […]
SAM New York Response to Governor Cuomo’s State of the State Address
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo presented his annual State of the State Address in Albany. In his address, the governor repeated his call from last year to pass a bill legalizing the commercial sale of marijuana. The legislature failed to pass a bill accomplishing this last year due to the efforts of Smart Approaches to […]
State-Based Drug Use Survey Finds Marijuana Use Skyrocketing in “Legal” States
State-level data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the most authoritative study on drug use conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), finds that marijuana use in “legal” states among youth, young adults, and the general population continued its multi-year upward trend in several categories. Additionally, use rates in […]