News

The original version of this article appeared in exxpress. At the MCC Budapest Summit on the global drug epidemic, exxpress spoke with Kevin Sabet. He is the president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a long-time advisor to several U.S. presidential administrations and one of the most well-known experts in drug policy. Immediately after his keynote—in which he described the […]

Hungary’s drug policy is “an example because it’s a very clear message and nobody can be confused about what the law says. I don’t necessarily think people should be imprisoned for years for having a joint, but we need not be encouraging that behavior, which is what legalization or decriminalization can do,” Dr. Kevin Sabet […]

To educate New Yorkers about the harms of marijuana use, particularly the use of high-potency THC drugs, Smart Approaches to Marijuana has launched alongside our New York Impact Report a new awareness campaign: WHAT IS MARIJUANA? It’s a question more policymakers and legislators should have asked before deciding to create the Empire State’s legal market. […]

WASHINGTON, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) applauds the historic vote tonight by the US House of Representatives to close the hemp loophole and protect American families and public health.   SAM President & CEO Kevin Sabet released the following statement:   “For years, the predatory intoxicating hemp industry poisoned millions of children, deceived adults, and tricked lawmakers […]

Researchers in Ohio conducted a study on years of traffic data and found that 42% of drivers who died in car crashes tested positive for active THC in their blood—at astonishingly high levels. The study also noted that based on the autopsy reports, these were clearly not cases of residual use but recent use, within an hour […]

COLUMBUS—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) President and CEO Dr. Kevin Sabet applauds Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s executive order banning intoxicating hemp products.  “Banning dangerous and addictive drugs marketed to kids is a public health non-negotiable,” said Sabet. “Intoxicating hemp products were putting kids across Ohio in danger for years before Governor DeWine stepped up to […]

More bad news for marijuana users: Researchers from Thomas Jefferson University conducted a study that found that among patients with heart failure, marijuana users had a 19% higher chance of readmission and a 60% higher chance of death than nonusers. The researchers explicitly juxtapose these findings with the increasing social and legal acceptance of marijuana, cautioning clinicians to […]

A study by Australian researchers found that children of mothers who had cannabis use disorder while pregnant are 79% more likely to have any anxiety disorder and 146% more likely to specifically have PTSD. It is painfully ironic that something marketed to moms to “mellow out” goes on to give their kids anxiety disorders. But these ugly ironies seem […]

Washington, D.C.—Monday saw the marijuana industry abuzz with news that President Trump had posted a video on Truth Social arguing that CBD has wide medical benefits for older Americans.   Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) CEO Kevin A. Sabet said in response: “Big Marijuana boosters shouldn’t get too excited. If the past is any guide, these […]

62.7% of likely voters are less likely to support rescheduling if it gives big weed companies more financial incentive to advertise to children  WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new poll administered by Wes Anderson and his firm On Message Inc. finds that 62.7% of likely voters say they’d be less likely to support federal marijuana rescheduling if it gives […]

Sorry . . . what were you saying? Oh, yes: A massive neuroimaging study led by researchers at the University of Colorado found that huge majorities of young adult marijuana users suffer significant cognitive impairment in everyday life. Specifically, 63% of heavy lifetime users and 68% of recent users experienced reduced brain activity, which is associated with performance issues, […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) applauds the House Appropriations Committee for continuing to show incredible leadership in the fight for evidence-based public health policy.   The Committee voted to advance a key SAM priority in its markup Wednesday. Language blocking the sale of recreational marijuana in our nation’s capital—the so-called Harris Rider—was included in […]

A Harvard Medical School study found that recovery housing residents were twice as likely to remain abstinent (65% vs. 31%). Additionally, they had an incarceration rate of a third of what it was for those not in recovery housing (3% vs. 9%). The findings suggest that incentives matter, not only for staying off drugs but also for staying […]

WASHINGTON, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) released a letter addressed to President Trump Monday, signed by a wide spectrum of SAM coalition partners, including the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions, Family Research Council, Concerned Women for Legislative Action Committee, National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, and Drug Enforcement Association of Federal Narcotics Agents (DEAFNA). “President Trump […]

In the latest edition of “what we’ve been saying all along,” a study by researchers from the University of Ottawa found that individuals who visited the ER due to marijuana use are 14.6 times more likely to develop schizophrenia. And here’s the big one: individuals who visited the ER due to cannabis-induced psychosis are a dizzying 241.6 times more […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and 1000 Feet today announced they have sent a joint letter to President Donald J. Trump, Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi, and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine F. Pirro urging immediate enforcement of the Federal Drug-Free School Zones Act against marijuana retailers that DC officials have […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Smart Approaches to Marijuana President, Kevin Sabet, released the following statement today in response to President Donald Trump’s remarks at a White House press briefing, where the President confirmed that his administration is “looking at” a proposal to reclassify marijuana under federal law and expects to make a decision in the “next few […]

Everyone knows smoking marijuana isn’t great for your oral health, and now we have evidence proving it. A study out of the UC San Diego School of Medicine found that Individuals with cannabis use disorder (CUD) are more than three times likely to develop oral cancer within five years compared to those without CUD. Worse, as with this earlier study […]

New SAM Action television ads, to air on Fox News and Fox Business Network, warn that moving marijuana to Schedule III would let CCP-backed and Mexican cartels launder profits, in addition to unleashing a nationwide public health crisis while weed industry barons receive tax breaks. WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, SAM Action, the (c)4 arm of Smart […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On July 29, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its recommendation that 7-OH, a component of the plant kratom, be moved to Schedule I. The agency also released a report on kratom and its harm profile to justify the decision.   Kevin Sabet, president & CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and […]

Marijuana rots your teeth, makes you more likely to die from heart problems, screws up your genetic expression, and causes severe mental illness. Next up in the list of its bad effects? It makes you older, faster. A recent study from Chinese researchers evaluated the association between marijuana use and levels of α-Klotho, a protein linked […]

Researchers from the Sorbonne found that among adolescents, marijuana use was linked to 46% higher odds of experiencing suicidal ideation and 85% higher odds of attempting suicide. Their research method accounted for pre-existing depression; the data they gathered shows marijuana use independently harms mental health.  This comes on top of an avalanche of evidence showing that weed is connected to […]