General

Today, the United States House of Representatives narrowly voted to approve the Blumenauer/McClintock amendment to the Fiscal Year 2019 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill that will prohibit Department of Justice funding from being used to enforce federal law upon stores, facilities, and growers trafficking in so-called recreational marijuana. As a result of this amendment, the […]

NY’s Rejection of Commercial Weed Biggest Blow Yet to Big Marijuana Despite massive spending and lobbying by Big Marijuana and its allies, the New York State Legislature rejected commercial marijuana. Dr. Kevin Sabet, former drug policy advisor to President Obama and President of Smart Approaches to Marijuana released the following statement in response: “Today New […]

Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), the leading nonpartisan organization dedicated to offering a science-based approach to marijuana policy, released its third annual Lessons Learned Report, a comprehensive study of the data outcomes in ‘legalized’ marijuana states. This study, validated by researchers from institutions such as Harvard and Johns Hopkins University and used as primary […]

Smart Approaches to Marijuana-Illinois (SAM-IL), the coalition that has worked to educate lawmakers and the public about the harms of commercializing and legalizing marijuana, released the following statements today about the passage of legislation to legalize marijuana in Illinois. “Today’s outcome is disappointing, as it is a win for wealthy marijuana investors and a loss […]

Last week, lawmakers announced that marijuana legalization bills in New Jersey, Vermont, and New Hampshire are all effectively dead for the 2019 session. This litany of victories comes on the heels of a slew of other wins this year in states like Minnesota and New Mexico. “Consecutive years of victories for public health and safety […]

(Alexandria, VA) – Today, it was announced that Norway’s sovereign wealth fund will reverse a decision to invest 900 million NOK into various marijuana companies and companies with ties to the marijuana industry. This decision comes after Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) partnered with a broad coalition of concerned citizens and associations in the country […]

(Denver, CO) – Today, the Marijuana Accountability Coalition (MAC), a Colorado group dedicated to holding the state’s marijuana industry accountable, announced a new billboard campaign aimed at educating Coloradans and Governor Jared Polis on the failed policy of marijuana legalization in Colorado. Governor Polis is currently considering signing bills into law allowing for the creation […]

At a recent a policy summit in Atlanta, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), the leading marijuana policy group offering a science-based approach to marijuana reform, awarded several achievement awards to influential and prominent influencers on drug policy. In recognition of his lifetime of dedication to public health, SAM President Dr. Kevin Sabet presented former United […]

(Alexandria, VA) – A new Canadian federal study released yesterday found a 27% increase in marijuana use among people aged 15 to 24 over the last year. Additionally, approximately 646,000 Canadians have reported trying marijuana for the first time in the last three months, an amount almost double the 327,000 that admitted to trying the […]

Today, former United States Congressman and co-founder of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), Patrick Kennedy, released an open letter to lawmakers in states currently considering legislation to “legalize” the use of marijuana and facilitate its commercialization. Specifically, the letters are being sent to lawmakers in New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Illinois, and […]

Image Credit: Urine Drug Test HQ (Alexandria, VA) – Today, an analysis of 10 million drug samples by Quest Diagnostics found that states that have “legalized” the use of marijuana have seen massive increases in workforce positivity since legalization. Oregon has seen a 63% increase, Nevada has seen a 55% increase, and Colorado has seen […]

Today, a new study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine shows that sufferers from chronic pain who use marijuana in conjunction with prescription opioids demonstrated higher instances of mental health issues and further substance abuse problems than those who used opioids alone. According to the study, instances of depression and anxiety as well as opioid […]

Today, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, Colorado Senator Cory Gardner, Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer, and Ohio Representative Dave Joyce introduced a reckless bill that would legalize unlimited potency concentrates and kid-friendly pot gummies at the federal level. In response, Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action president Dr. Kevin Sabet released the following statement: “Make no mistake, this […]

A new study published yesterday in the journal JAMA Psychiatry found that marijuana use during pregnancy can increase the risk in unborn children developing psychosis later in life. This revelation poses yet another reason the reported recent 75% increase in marijuana use during pregnancy is so concerning. “While the pot industry has been caught recommending […]

Today, the House Financial Services Committee approved H.R. 1595, the SAFE Act, a bill that would grant the marijuana industry access to the federal banking system and open the doors to Wall Street investment. SAM president Dr. Kevin Sabet released the following statement in response: “This bill, the ‘UN-SAFE Act,’ fails to do the very […]

A new study released yesterday in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that the rise in marijuana use in Colorado since the state legalized the drug has led to increased emergency room visits. The study found that 9,973 marijuana-related emergency room visits occurred from 2012-2016, more than triple the number that occurred prior to legalization. […]

Today, a landmark study published in the prestigious Lancet Psychiatry Journal finds that daily use of high potency marijuana is linked to greater rates of psychosis in Europe. According to the study, an estimated five in ten new cases of psychosis in Amsterdam and three in ten new cases in London are linked with high […]

Yesterday, a Minnesota Senate Committee overwhelmingly voted down a bill that would have legalized the commercial sale of marijuana in the state by a vote of 6-3. As the Senate now appears unwilling to address any further consideration of legalization, this means the effort to expand Big Marijuana in the state this year is dead. […]

Today, the United Nations quasi-judicial drug policy body, the International Narcotics Control Board, released a scathing report chiding countries who have legalized marijuana and outlining the problems marijuana poses to the health and well-being of youth worldwide. “This report is a bombshell,” said Kevin Sabet. “It is significant that the UN is calling out individual […]

“The proposal being put forth by Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio cannot be taken seriously. State after state that legalized marijuana promised they would be awash in tax dollars — and they have all been sorely disappointed. “In Colorado, they said legalization would bring in $118 million in its first year, only $67 million […]

Voters less likely to support presidential candidates who take marijuana industry money; also less likely to support legalization when aware of Big Tobacco involvement (Alexandria, VA) – According to a new national poll, 68% of registered voters do not support legalizing the recreational use of marijuana when given more than a binary choice of options. […]

Marijuana Abuse: Increasing the Likelihood of the use of Harder Substances By Carissa Webb The subject of whether or not marijuana is a gateway drug has been one of much controversy for many years, but with increasing legislation regarding the legal status of the drug comes the need for this issue to be addressed. The […]

Today, Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), along with Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon), introduced S. 420/H.R. 420 to remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, establish a commercial retail market, and tax the drug. In response, former Obama administration advisor and President and CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), Dr. Kevin Sabet, released the following statement: […]

According to a story in today’s Springfield Journal Register, Illinois’ senior Senator Dick Durbin urged caution to state legislators looking to legalize recreational marijuana in his home state. “Senator Durbin is right, Illinois needs to slow down and think through their plan to legalize recreational pot.  Every state that has legalized has seen unintended consequences […]