News
SAM Appeals to Keep THC Out of Taxpayer-Funded Medicare
WASHINGTON, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today asked a federal appeals court to revive its lawsuit against a new Medicare program that lets health care providers give THC products to […]
Marijuana Rescheduling Proceeding Halted After Federal Watchdog Report
A DEA administrative law judge has stayed the marijuana rescheduling proceeding for two weeks and ordered supplemental briefing following a GAO report on how federal agencies schedule controlled substances.
The Hemp THC Ban Is Still the Law. We’ll Make Sure It Takes Effect.
WASHINGTON, DC — Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today responded to the House vote sending a spending bill to President Trump’s desk, which includes a delay of the federal ban on intoxicating […]
THC INC Screening in Colorado
Colorado was the first state in the country to open the doors to a commercial marijuana industry. More than a decade later, we are bringing the film about what that […]
Senate Caves to Hemp Industry, Votes to Delay Implementation of Hemp THC BAN
WASHINGTON, DC—Last year, a bipartisan group of 76 senators voted to close a loophole that originated in the 2018 farm bill and led to the proliferation of kid-friendly Hemp THC […]
35 State Attorneys General Urge Congress to Reject Any Effort to Delay or Weaken the Hemp THC Ban
Washington, DC— Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today welcomed a letter from 35 state attorneys general urging congressional leaders to reject any last-minute effort to delay, repeal, suspend, or weaken the […]
Buried Provision Would Gut Hemp THC Ban Weeks After It Takes Effect
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today condemned draft Senate appropriations text that would extend the implementation of the hemp-derived THC ban until December 11. The law, initially passed […]
Marijuana Is on Track to Become America’s #1 Addiction
For the First Time in U.S. History, More Americans Use Marijuana Daily Than Smoke Cigarettes Daily; Marijuana Use Disorder Is Now the Nation’s Second-Largest Addiction Washington, DC—For the first time […]
Guyana Ferry Disaster Is a Warning: Normalizing Marijuana Has a Body Count
Washington, DC—At least 27 people are dead and more feared lost after a passenger ferry carrying more than 179 people capsized off the coast of Guyana over the weekend. Guyanese […]
“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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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), […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
