SAM in the Press

“States like Ohio see more traffic deaths, increased youth use of marijuana, increased health issues like anxiety, depression, psychosis. People aren’t paying attention. They are ignoring the public health impacts of marijuana, and Ohio obviously has done that, too,” John Daviau of the organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana said. Read the entire article HERE.

Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, which opposes legalization, dismissed the victory in Ohio as a likely fluke because an abortion measure that turned out left-leaning voters was also on the ballot. He said his organization will push for restrictions on advertising and THC levels in products, and Republican legislative leaders have vowed to amend […]

The camel stuck its nose into Pennsylvania’s tent in 2016 when the Medical Marijuana Act was signed into law. It didn’t take long for the beast to try to crawl all the way in. Senate Bill 846 now seeks to “legalize” so-called recreational marijuana. It will make a bad situation even worse. It’s straight out of the addiction-for-profit industry’s […]

With Pennsylvania reigniting the debate over marijuana legalization, I recently met with leaders of the General Assembly to emphasize the risks of this irresponsible policy. States that experimented with legalization have experienced increases in marijuana-involved traffic fatalities, emergency department visits, and addiction. It’s also led to more social costs and harmed public safety. Read the […]

Potency Caps, Advertising Restrictions, Warning Labels, Detailed Reporting Needed to Ensure Addiction Industry Doesn’t Victimize Ohioans (WASHINGTON, DC) – In the wake of the passage of Issue 2 legalizing marijuana and THC drugs, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), the nation’s leading marijuana policy organization, has released a roadmap for Ohio’s legislators to protect public health and safety.  […]

Read about it HERE.

Marijuana proponents in Ohio are flying high as State Issue 2 earned enough votes to make recreational cannabis legal in the Buckeye State.  With 89.51% of precincts reporting statewide as of 11:15 p.m., the measure received 56.39% of favorable votes, according to unofficial results reported by the Ohio Secretary of State. Read the entire article […]

“This fight is not over,” Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action President Kevin Sabet said in a statement. He called on state lawmakers to eliminate provisions of Issue 2 that allow for commercial sales, advertising and production, at a minimum. Read the entire article HERE.

With Passage of Issue 2, Ohio Legislature Should Eliminate Commercial Sales and Take Steps to Prevent Against Growth of Addiction, Enact Prevention Measures, Create Health and Safety Guidelines for Commercial Sales (COLUMBUS, OH) – With numbers still being counted, it appears Issue 2 will pass. Of note, even though the anti-Issue 2 campaign was outraised […]

Drinks infused with the psychoactive substance THC are now being sold by US retailer Total Wine & More in Minnesota, as a nationwide roll-out could also be planned. Drinks brands being sold by the retailer have some products on their website that include 50mg of THC. One of the brands, Cantrip, contain 25mg and 50mg […]

The question as to whether the Commonwealth should legalize recreational marijuana is once again sparking a debate at the State Capitol. Many opponents are also pushing back against the argument that since Pennsylvanians are crossing state lines to buy marijuana anyway, it makes sense to legalize it in the Commonwealth and collect the tax revenue. […]

Luke Niforatos, executive vice president for Smart Approaches to Marijuana:  Americans are watching legal weed’s promise go up in smoke Watch the entire interview HERE.

Recreational marijuana is currently legal or decriminalized in 23 states plus D.C., but remains illegal on the federal level. Federal laws against marijuana are generally not enforced against users, but regulations against drug trafficking and money laundering mean marijuana operations cannot use banks or claim tax deductions in the same way regular businesses do.  The […]

An interim study committee heard roughly six hours of testimony on Wednesday “We’re not talking about flower and marijuana joints anymore of the 70s. These new products we’re talking about — cannabis-infused with pink lemonade gummies, candies, cookies, ice cream sodas — these are legally being sold in the state-regulated markets,” said Luke Niforatos, executive vice […]

The problems that feed homelessness and disorder. Andy Kessler’s “Three Ideas to End Tent Cities” (Inside View, Oct. 30) raises worthy points to address San Francisco’s and the nation’s ballooning homeless crisis. The column would benefit, however, from acknowledging that addiction and the legalization of drugs is a significant contributor to homelessness. Read the entire […]

The hot-button issue of marijuana legalization is front and center in Ohio again and voters will ultimately decide whether or not it happens on Nov. 7. “Legalizing marijuana has nothing to do with social justice,” Smart Approaches to Marijuana Executive VP Luke Niforatos said. “We don’t think anyone who made a poor decision when they were 14 […]

More than a decade after Colorado became the first state to legalize marijuana in 2012, it is apparent that legalization has mostly failed based on the very criteria put forth by its champions “When Colorado became the first state to legalize marijuana for recreational use in 2014, expectations were as high as its users. For […]

Lots of people with anxiety are counting on cannabis’s ability to treat their symptoms. There’s a problem: The science shows that it probably doesn’t help, and it may make those symptoms worse. Cannabis companies have promoted their products as helpful for anxiety, making for a potentially lucrative market. Anxious consumers have turned to weed and edibles for […]

Most of the cohesion in the anti-weed movement — said Luke Niforatos, executive vice president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, the leading anti-legalization advocacy group — comes from advocates and lobbying groups, not lawmakers’ offices themselves. He said SAM worked with Lankford on the letter and regularly connects offices they know are opposed to marijuana […]

Former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, Medical Professionals, Leading Scientists Urge NCAA President Charlie Baker To Recognize Scientific and Medical Data Detailing the Risks Associated with Today’s THC Drugs As Governor of Massachusetts, Baker Recognized the Dangers of THC Drug Use (WASHINGTON, DC) – Former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, Honorary Chair of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), today […]

“Substance Use Disorders, Chronic Homelessness, and Arrests increased by 17%, 35% and 13% respectively.” (WASHINGTON, DC) – Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) President Dr. Kevin Sabet, a former White House drug policy advisor to Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama, released the following statement today in response to a new research paper released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas […]

“If the government’s new cigarette regulations were about addressing public health concerns, then they’ve only taken on part of the battle. You can’t promote healthy living while ignoring the harms of drugs like opioids, meth, and cannabis,” Sabet wrote. Read the entire article HERE.

Bipartisan Group of former DEA Administrators & ONDCP Directors Cite Public Health, Lack of Medical Benefits, and Industry Practices Among Concerns (WASHINGTON, DC) – A bipartisan group of 11 former DEA Administrators and ONDCP Directors, who served in every administration from Presidents Nixon to Obama, has penned a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland […]

“Today’s marijuana is nothing like it was 30 years ago,” said Luke Niforatos, the executive vice president of Safe Approaches to Marijuana. “It’s more potent than ever before. The moment you let industries selling an addictive drug become legal, they will find ways to target and addict younger demographics. That’s how they can stay afloat […]