General

Every September, our country celebrates National Recovery Month, a time to show that people do recover and move on with their lives. As I write this blog I am actually landing in Sacramento to join recovery advocates from all over the state of California. This trip, like many others, will include me speaking on strategies […]

On Tuesday, the California Legislature passed a bill that would allow marijuana operations in the state the capability to deduct business expenses from their state taxes. Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action founder and president, Dr. Kevin Sabet, released the following statement: “Pot businesses should not be allowed to deduct advertising and other expenses that boost […]

In response to growing evidence that more pregnant and breastfeeding women are using marijuana and concerns about the potential risks to developing fetuses and infants, the American Academy of Pediatrics (A.A.P.) released a recommendation this week that women avoid the drug altogether when they are pregnant or breast-feeding. Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) president, Dr. […]

(Alexandria, VA) – Today, the results of a study conducted by Healthy Kids California was released purporting to show that marijuana legalization has not led to an increase in youth use of marijuana. Smart Approaches to Marijuana president and founder Dr. Kevin Sabet released the following statement: “The reality is the majority of the data […]

More than half admit marijuana use within two hours of getting behind the wheel In one of the most concerning developments to date, a published report by the state of Colorado found that in 2016, about 73% of some 4,000 drivers charged with driving under the influence tested positive for marijuana. The report, by the […]

Today, a new report on marijuana production, distribution and consumption in Oregon is finding major problems since the legalization of the drug. The Idaho/Oregon High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) report finds there is so much pot in circulation, it’s being shipped to more than half the states in the nation. The study also discovered […]

Group formally submits Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request to obtain sources that contributed to the creation of the New York State report released by the Department of Health endorsing legalization Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), in coordination with its award-winning science advisory board and its New York State Affiliate, SAM-NY, released a comprehensive […]

In response to the marijuana industry’s wide expansion into the state, Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action (SAM Action), a non-profit 501 (c)(4) organization opposed to the legalization and commercialization of marijuana, whose sister organization SAM was founded by former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, is proud to announce the opening of our New York office in […]

Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana president and founder Dr. Kevin Sabet released the following statement on the news that Canadian marijuana producing company Tilray will start trading on the Nasdaq: “It is unconscionable – and illegal – to promote the production and commercialization of pot candies, cookies, and other edibles in the US market. We […]

(Alexandria, VA) – On Monday night, members of the House Rules Committee blocked two pro-marijuana industry amendments from consideration. This is the 34th pro-pot amendment to be blocked by the House Rules Committee and joins the dozens of failed efforts to loosen marijuana laws this Congress. The first amendment, sponsored by Congressman Danny Heck, would […]

Today, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Health Department released a report which claims the positive effects of marijuana legalization outweigh the negatives and recommends the legalization of the drug in the state. Smart Approaches to Marijuana president and founder Dr. Kevin Sabet released the following statement: “This recommendation is extremely concerning.The decision by the Health […]

Marijuana legalization has led to massive increases in youth exposure to the substance, according the 2017 Annual Toxic Trend Report compiled by the Washington Poison Center. In 2017, there were 378 total marijuana exposures reported to the Washington State Poison Center. This number is an all-time high for reported marijuana exposures and is an increase […]

Most Michigan citizens would vote down recreational marijuana if the vote were held today according to an 800-household, statewide survey conducted by Target Insyght from June 24-26. “These results are not surprising,” stated Scott Greenlee, President of Healthy and Productive Michigan. “The more that people find out about drug cartels buying houses in Colorado and […]

Today, New York Senator Chuck Schumer introduced the Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act, a far-reaching proposal that would federally legalize marijuana, stop drug testing pilots, and increase cartel access and environmental devastation in National Forests. Just yesterday, Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action (SAM Action) released a poll showing that a majority of Senator Schumer’s constituents […]

More Than Three Quarters of African-American and Latino Respondents Did Not Support Marijuana Legalization Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and its New York Affiliate, SAM-NY, released the results of a new Emerson College poll finding that the majority of New Yorkers do not support the legalization of marijuana. A plurality support either decriminalization or […]

Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) founder and president, Dr. Kevin Sabet, released the following statement regarding the recent FDA approval of the first cannabidiol medication, Epidiolex: “Today, the FDA reached a milestone by approving a pure CBD oil medication – Epidiolex – for the treatment of two rare epileptic disorders. This is an important […]

Legalizing marijuana encourages use of harder drugs and sets back the cause of social justice. By Patrick Kennedy and Kevin Sabet Sens. Cory Gardner and Elizabeth Warren have introduced a bill to legalize marijuana at the federal level in the name of “states’ rights.” In reality, it would give birth to Big Tobacco’s successor. This […]

Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) President Kevin Sabet released this statement on the Senate vote for the legalization of marijuana in Canada: “Despite warnings and opposition from major medical groups, and international treaties outlawing the legal sales of marijuana, Canada has, on a mainly party-line vote, sided with the mariijuana industry and legalized the […]

Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted down the Merkley amendment which would have allowed full banking access to the marijuana industry. Dr. Kevin Sabet, founder and president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana released the following statement in response: “Last week, public health notched a decisive win against Big Marijuana when the House Appropriations Committee voted […]

Today, the House Appropriations Committee voted down the Joyce amendment which would have allowed full banking access to the marijuana industry. Dr. Kevin Sabet, founder and president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action released the following statement in response: “This is a major victory for public health and families in communities across this country. Allowing […]

In honor of the upcoming World Drug Day – or the UN International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking – SAM is dedicating June 26th to the millions of volunteers who advocate for wider awareness about the growing problem of marijuana. “On this day, we should remember the people on the front lines every […]

Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) celebrates the results of several local level ballot initiatives in California and Massachusetts that prohibit pot shops in communities. In Jarupa Valley, California, the pot industry got hit with a double whammy by losing two ballot measures. The first, Measure A, would have overturned a city-wide ban on commercial […]

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!  

[Alexandria, VA] – In response to today’s announced legislation by Colorado Senator Cory Gardner and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) President Dr. Kevin Sabet released the following statement:   “Why is Senator Gardner standing for the same companies that were caught red-handed recommending pot to pregnant women? The state of Colorado […]