General

Statement from SAM Honorary Advisor  Patrick J. Kennedy and SAM President Kevin Sabet Today, former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, SAM Honorary Advisor, and SAM President Kevin Sabet released a statement on the hearing today held by the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, “Is the Department of Justice Adequately Protecting the Public from the Impact of […]

Statement for the record from SAM KEVIN SABET Today I am speaking on behalf of multiple civil society organizations in the Drug Policy Futures network, including SAM, Smart Approaches to Marijuana, in opposition to some member states’ legalization of psychoactive drugs. These actions violate the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, and threaten international […]

Let’s Be Clear GA, National Families in Action, and Partner Organizations Severely Limit “Medical” Marijuana Bill in Georgia   Coalition pared down original 24-page “medical” marijuana bill to seven pages-eliminating, among other provisions, in-state cultivation; in-state dispensaries; unlimited THC % with no cap (instead of a 5% limit)   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 3, 2016 […]

GAO Calls Out DOJ for Not Documenting Plan to Monitor Marijuana Legalization Outcomes   Justice Department officials told investigators that they “they did not see a benefit” in documenting marijuana monitoring activities   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 1, 2016   Contact: Jeffrey Zinsmeister jeff@learnaboutsam.org +1 (415) 680-3993   [WASHINGTON, DC] – Giving substance to the saying, […]

Today, Dr. Madeline Meier, Professor at Arizona State University, commented on two studies (here and here ) regarding IQ and marijuana use. Dr. Meier stands firm by her previous research showing an up to 8-point reduction in IQ among heavy marijuana users. Her statement is here: “Unfortunately for your headline writers, there is no controversy here.  Our […]

JOURNAL PRINTS CORRECTION: MARIJUANA USE LINKED WITH 2.5-FOLD INCREASE IN PSYCHOSIS Psychology of Addictive Behaviors journal makes corrections, SAM calls on media to correct stories   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 19, 2016   Contact: Jeffrey Zinsmeister jeff@learnaboutsam.org +1 (415) 680-3993   [WASHINGTON, DC] – A prominent journal article about marijuana and health which resulted in media […]

VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RELEASES SCATHING REPORT ON MARIJUANA’S HEALTH IMPACTS AS LEGISLATURE MULLS LEGALIZATION – PREDICTS 12th GRADE MARIJUANA USE TO INCREASE BY 10% IF VERMONT LEGALIZED MARIJUANA The report also predicts a near 30% increase in emergency room visits due to marijuana if the state legalizes FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2015 Contact: […]

DEA WAIVES REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR  CBD RESEARCH, ADOPTING SAM RECOMMENDATION   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 23, 2015   Contact: Jeffrey Zinsmeister jeff@learnaboutsam.org +1 (415) 680-3993   [WASHINGTON, DC] – Researching one of the non-intoxicating components of marijuana, cannabidiol (CBD), will now be made easier because of new DEA regulations released today. In line with SAM’s […]

Because of generous contributions, SAM is expanding again! We are hiring a full-time Communications and Marketing Director, and a part-time Special Assistant. FULL-TIME COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working on drug policy issues, is seeking an experienced, energetic, detail-oriented, full-time Communications Director in our office located in Old Town […]

 HHS Survey of States: For the First Time, Colorado Leads the Nation in Regular Marijuana Use Among Youth Comprehensive state-by-state survey reveals trends not captured in nationwide studies FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 17, 2015 Contact: Jeffrey Zinsmeister jeff@learnaboutsam.org +1 (415) 680-3993 [WASHINGTON, DC] – The most comprehensive federal government drug use survey conducted in all 50 states […]

PRESS STATEMENT December 16, 2015 8:30 p.m.   Contact: Jeffrey Zinsmeister jeff@learnaboutsam.org +1 (415) 680-3993 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, SAM President Dr. Kevin A. Sabet made the following statement on the U.S. Solicitor General’s amicus curiae brief submitted to the Supreme Court regarding the case Nebraska v. Colorado: “The hype about the Obama administration’s brief […]

CONGRESS PREVENTS POT INDUSTRY FROM LEVERAGING BANKING SYSTEM TO MASS-MARKET MARIJUANA; ALLOWS DOJ TO ENFORCE FEDERAL LAW WITH RESPECT TO “RECREATIONAL” MARIJUANA USE   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 16, 2015 1:00 p.m.   Contact: Jeffrey Zinsmeister jeff@learnaboutsam.org +1 (415) 680-3993   [WASHINGTON, DC] – The Omnibus spending bill passed early this morning in Congress did […]

U.S. YOUTH DRUG SURVEY: MARIJUANA USE REMAINS STRONG DESPITE DROP IN OTHER DRUG USE; SURVEY DESIGN MISSES KIDS NOT IN SCHOOL   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 16, 2015 12:01 a.m.   Contact: Jeffrey Zinsmeister jeff@learnaboutsam.org +1 (415) 680-3993   [WASHINGTON, DC] – The nation’s annual school survey of drug use, Monitoring the Future (MTF), shows marijuana use […]

FACT SHEET ON THE RECENT DECISION OF THE MEXICAN SUPREME COURT REGARDING MARIJUANA Major news organizations are exaggerating or misconstruing the scope of the decision by the Mexican Supreme Court—issued by a 4-to-1 vote of a panel consisting of five of that tribunal’s eleven judges—to allow four people to cultivate and consume marijuana for personal […]

OHIO VOTERS REJECT  MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION Voters decide against legalizing marijuana in key 2016 swing state;  opponents win despite being outspent by more than 15:1 COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio voters have rejected the legalization of marijuana in their state, sending a strong message from a key swing state to 2016 Presidential candidates and to the rest […]

SAM presidential scorecard updated SAM UPDATES PRESIDENTIAL SCORECARD AFTER SANDERS’ COMMENTS AND REPUBLICAN DEBATE   Candidates evaluated on three criteria, including support for treatment and prevention for users as alternatives to incarceration, a true medical marijuana program based on scientific research, and opposition to legalized and commercialized marijuana for recreational use WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today […]

PRESS STATEMENT                                                    Today, SAM President Kevin Sabet made the following statement on HR 3561, introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer: “While we disagree with Rep. Blumenauer’s attempts to legalize marijuana and legitimize a […]

Amid the headlines highlighting the Pope’s stances on an array of hot button political issues like climate change, immigration, poverty, the death penalty and capitalism, we would like to highlight one of his positions that is perhaps less well-known – “Attempts, however limited, to legalize so-called ‘recreational drugs,’ are not only highly questionable from a […]

SENATOR RAND PAUL GETS IT WRONG;  JUSTICE SONIA SOTOMAYOR GETS IT RIGHT ON MARIJUANA POLICY   SAM will shortly release a questionnaire and report card for all candidates to gauge their respective positions on this issue, and propose an evidence-based policy proposal that helps, not hurts, Americans. During this week’s Republican presidential debate, several candidates […]

REPORT: MARIJUANA COMMERCIALIZATION FAILING IN COLORADO FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 15, 2015 Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (RMHIDTA) report shows significant increases in traffic fatalities, child poison control exposures, hospitalizations, youth use, amongst other alarming data, detailing how Colorado’s experiment with retail marijuana regulation is a public health and safety failure. DENVER, CO – […]

PRESS RELEASE    CORRECTED                                                                            Contact: Will Jones September 11, 2015                 […]

For “National Recovery Month”  the Keys to Recovery newspaper is featuring an article written by SAM President Dr. Sabet addressing  common myths about marijuana. You can read the article in its entirety here.  

Firm SmithJohnson Research released poll today finding that 51% of Coloradans would oppose Amendment 64 today. Survey finds Colorado’s marijuana legalization law does not do a good job to prevent children from using marijuana or keep our roads safe.   DENVER, CO- SmithJohnson Research, a polling firm who has worked with Democrats and Republicans, today […]

University of Florida Drug Policy Institute Joins Senior Researchers at Harvard, Boston Children’s Hospital, University of Texas, and Others in Responding to Latest Claims by the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy A team of researchers from the UF Drug Policy Institute, Harvard University, and other institutions authored a lengthy response to a recent monograph written by the […]