News
“Those Warnings Proved Prescient”: Albany Times Union Editorial Board Concedes SAM Was Right About Legal Marijuana and New York’s Kids
Washington, DC—The Albany Times Union editorial board – responding to a new state Department of Health report showing child cannabis poisonings in New York have doubled since 2016 — acknowledged this week that opponents of legalization “warned during the debate over legalization that edible cannabis products resembling candy or snacks could end up in children’s hands,” adding: “Those warnings […]
SAM CLOSES OUT DEA RESCHEDULING HEARING, URGES JUDGE TO PUT PUBLIC HEALTH FIRST
ARLINGTON, VA—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today marked the conclusion of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s administrative hearing on the proposed rule to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. SAM and allied participants placed extensive scientific and public-health evidence on the record, and the matter now moves to the Administrative Law Judge’s recommended decision. […]
AS HISTORIC MARIJUANA RESCHEDULING HEARING BEGINS, SAM WARNS THE STAKES FOR AMERICA’S KIDS HAVE NEVER BEEN HIGHER
WASHINGTON, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) released the following statement as the federal hearing (DEA Hearing Docket No. 26-96) on whether to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III begins. “Rescheduling marijuana is a wolf in sheep’s clothing—it has nothing to do with criminal penalties, very little to do with research, and much more […]
SAM FILES PREHEARING STATEMENT AND REQUESTS SUBPOENA FOR DEA SCIENTIST AHEAD OF MARIJUANA RESCHEDULING HEARING
WASHINGTON, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) last night filed its prehearing statement in the federal marijuana rescheduling proceeding, set to begin June 29 (SAM’s arguments are scheduled for July 6-7), laying out the scientific case that marijuana meets the legal standard to remain a Schedule I drug. SAM will present two expert witnesses, both of […]
SAM TO PRESENT TESTIMONY AT DEA HEARING FOR MARIJUANA RESCHEDULING
WASHINGTON, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today announced that the Drug Enforcement Administration has granted its request to participate in the upcoming administrative hearing on the proposed rule to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. “We are grateful for the opportunity to make our case,” said SAM CEO […]
SAM CONDEMNS SUPREME COURT RULING THAT THREATENS TO PUT MORE GUNS IN THE HANDS OF DRUG USERS
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today condemns the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Hemani, which weakens 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), the federal law that has long prohibited unlawful drug users from possessing firearms. The ruling comes as marijuana commercialization spreads across the country and high-potency products fuel rising rates of addiction and serious mental-health harms. […]
IN SPITE OF SMALL IMPROVEMENTS, SPANBERGER AND LEGISLATOR CAVE TO THE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY
RICHMOND, VA—Last month, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger showed real courage by vetoing legislation that would have legalized commercial marijuana in Virginia. While we commended the Governor’s veto and her public statements on the negative impact of commercial marijuana on public health, we are disappointed that she agreed to include commercial legalization in this year’s budget. […]
SAM ACTION CELEBRATES AS SENSIBLE MARIJUANA POLICY QUESTION HEADS TO MASSACHUSETTS VOTERS
BOSTON, MA—SAM Action applauds the Massachusetts Supreme Court for its unanimous decision to allow “An Act to Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy” to appear on the statewide ballot on November 3, 2026, giving the people of Massachusetts the chance to decide the future of commercial marijuana for themselves. “Voters will now have the final say […]
SAM APPLAUDS PENNSYLVANIA SENATE FOR REJECTING SB 49, THANKS PARENTS WHO MADE THEIR VOICES HEARD
HARRISBURG, PA—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today applauds the Pennsylvania Senate for rejecting Senate Bill 49, which failed by a 23–27 vote earlier this week. The bill would have established a new marijuana control board—a structure the marijuana industry has openly backed as a first step toward Pennsylvania’s ultimate goal of recreational legalization. It would also have created a […]
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE BARS MARIJUANA PURCHASES USING WORKERS’ COMPENSATION DOLLARS, DEMANDS CDC REVIEW ON YOUTH CHS
Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) applauds the House Appropriations Committee for advancing legislation yesterday that bars workers’ compensation funds from being used to purchase marijuana products. In a March ruling (Peña Garcia v. Director, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs), the Second Circuit established that marijuana’s Schedule I status prohibits injured employees from using workers’ […]
SAM APPEALS CMS HEMP PILOT RULING TO D.C. CIRCUIT
Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today announced that it has filed a Notice of Appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, challenging a district court judgment entered that upheld the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Substance Access Beneficiary Engagement Initiative (BEI)—a pilot program that would let Medicare […]
SAM CONDEMNS TRULIEVE’S NYSE LISTING AS A DARK DAY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
WASHINGTON, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today condemned the New York Stock Exchange’s decision to list Trulieve Cannabis—the first U.S. marijuana company to secure a spot. Trulieve’s shares are set to begin trading on June 10, a milestone made possible only by the Trump administration’s reckless reclassification of marijuana to Schedule III earlier this year. […]
SAM APPLAUDS STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL FOR CHALLENGING FEDERAL MARIJUANA RESCHEDULING ORDER
Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) applauds the state attorneys general from Nebraska, Louisiana, and Indiana for filing a joint legal challenge to the Administration’s final order reclassifying state-legal medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. These challenges were subsequently consolidated with SAM’s petition in the D.C. Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. “We welcome […]
SAM FILES NOTICE OF INTENT TO PARTICIPATE IN DEA RESCHEDULING HEARING
Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) announced it has formally filed notice of its intent to participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s rescheduling hearing, scheduled to begin June 29, 2026, and will oppose the agency’s proposed rule to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. “This fight is not […]
COURT DISMISSES ON STANDING GROUNDS: SAM VOWS TO CONTINUE FIGHT AGAINST FEDERAL HEMP REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM
Washington, DC—Today, in the District Court of Appeals of Washington, D.C., Trump-appointed Judge Trevor McFadden dismissed SAM and its co-plaintiffs’ challenge to the CMS BEI (“low dose hemp-THC”) program for lack of standing. Kevin A. Sabet, President and CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), issued the following statement: “We fundamentally disagree with the court’s […]
SAM APPLAUDS DEMOCRATIC GOV. SPANBERGER FOR HISTORIC VETO OF COMMERCIAL MARIJUANA BILL
RICHMOND, VA—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) applauds Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, for vetoing legislation that would have opened a commercial marijuana market in the Commonwealth of Virginia. “While President Trump is caving to corporate interests by approving flavored vapes, Governor Spanberger is saying no to a new Big Tobacco,” says SAM CEO Kevin […]
SAM APPLAUDS HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE FOR ADVANCING BILL TO BLOCK MARIJUANA RESCHEDULING, ENFORCE HEMP-THC BAN, AND INVESTIGATE CCP-CONNECTED MARIJUANA BANKING
Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) applauds the House Appropriations Committee for passing landmark anti-marijuana legislation in its Fiscal Year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The package prohibits the Department of Justice from rescheduling marijuana and includes report language demanding enforcement of the 2025 ban on intoxicating hemp. The Committee also […]
SAM APPLAUDS HISTORIC CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY
Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) applauds Burke Law Group and many other domain experts for their historic lawsuit against the marijuana industry. This is the first lawsuit of its kind and a major step forward in efforts to defend public health. “For years, the marijuana industry has operated with impunity—downplaying risks and leaving families […]
SAM ASKS AG BLANCHE AND DEA: WILL FEDS STILL WORK AS DRUG DEALERS AFTER USF TRAGEDY?
Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) calls on US Attorney General Todd Blanche and DEA officials to answer whether they will still buy and sell “medical” marijuana after new reports broke that alleged University of South Florida killer Hisham Abugharbieh had long suffered significant mental-health and behavioral issues related to the drug—resulting in an arrest […]
SAM CONDEMNS IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S ILLEGAL DIRECTIVE ON MARIJUANA RESCHEDULING
Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) condemns in the strongest possible terms the Trump administration’s illegal move to skip procedural requirements and reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III without following federal law. SAM has also learned today the President is officially urging Congress to reverse the federal ban on hemp intoxicants, an echo […]
SAM: Griffith’s Hemp Regulation Bid is Backdoor Weed Legalization
Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) condemns legislation introduced by Reps. Morgan Griffith (VA) and Marc Veasey (TX): the Hemp Enforcement, Modernization, and Protection (HEMP) Act. “Make no mistake: This is simply an attempt at backdoor marijuana legalization,” said SAM CEO Kevin Sabet. “Again and again, we hear the same argument: that we can somehow regulate our way to safety around these dangerous drugs. […]
SAM: This Maternal Health Awareness Day, Remember How Badly Weed Hurts Mothers and Children
Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) highlights the dangers of marijuana to mothers and their children on this Maternal Health Awareness Day—a danger backed up by the best data and recognized by leading medical associations. “One of the most worrying trends around marijuana is its use by expectant and new mothers,” said SAM CEO Kevin Sabet. “Thanks […]
SAM Applauds Major Appropriations Bill Text Win For Public Health on Federal Ad Rules
Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) applauds major victories for public health in Congressional appropriations language from the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Committee and the Labor, Health, and Human Services Committee, including crucial SAM-authored language in the bill text barring the use of federal dollars on PSA-advertising that encourages drug use. “We are delighted to see that Congress is fighting to make […]
Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy & SAM: Sports Betting Is Pouring Gasoline on the Fire of Our Country’s Problems with Mental Health and Addiction
Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) celebrates the publication today of Danny Funt’s major new book on sports betting and addiction, Everybody Loses, from Simon & Schuster. “As the author of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, I have had the honor of leading an effort to ensure people can gain access to mental health and addiction treatment,” […]