General

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 […]

Leading Marijuana Policy Group Celebrates Victories as State-Level Marijuana Legalization Bills Fail [Alexandria, VA] – Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action and its state affiliates celebrated the victory of public health and safety over the marijuana industry in states across the country as multiple marijuana legalization bills died at the end of legislative sessions.   […]

Monitoring the Future study finds percentage of 12th graders admitting they would use marijuana reaching levels never before seen in 43-year history More 12th graders than ever admitted they would use marijuana if it were legal, according to new numbers from the largest drug use survey in the United States. Specifically, one in four 12th graders thought […]

May 10th (Hartford, CT) Today, the legislative session in Connecticut comes to a close. After pro-pot advocates claimed a victory in moving a bill to legalize marijuana out of committee, they almost immediately suffered a crushing defeat as neither chamber took up the bill in question. The push to legalize and commercialize marijuana in Connecticut, […]

[Alexandria, VA] – According to a new study by Quest Diagnostics, one of the leading drug testing and analysis organizations in the country, drug use in the U.S. workforce is at the highest levels it has been in the last decade, driven in large part by states that have legalized the sale of marijuana. Disturbingly, the […]

[Alexandria, VA] – New data released by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission indicate several troubling trends have emerged since marijuana legalization. Most notably: Marijuana-impaired driving fatalities have more than doubled (13 in 2012 to 27 in 2016). One in five drivers are under the influence of marijuana. That is up from one in 10 prior […]

Regulatory body will likely be slow to roll-out implementation, local opposition will continue [Augusta, ME] – Today, SAM and SAM Maine released this statement on the Maine Legislature’s vote to override Governor LePage’s veto on a bill legalizing marijuana. Bill 1719 will now become law, but it is unlikely that Governor LePage will push to […]

A big thank you to everyone who made the trip to Atlanta, GA for our 5th Annual Smart Approaches to Marijuana Summit! As SAM Founder and President Dr. Kevin Sabet said during his opening remarks, those who are standing up and pushing back against the commercialization and normalization of marijuana are on the right side […]