SAM in the Press

“Legalized drug crisis is harming young people far more than most realize” “The marijuana industry, which spent billions to lobby elected officials and bankroll legalization referendum campaigns, is following the playbook pioneered by Big Tobacco. They recognize that the road to big profits runs through the heaviest users. As such, they have increased potency of […]

“The worst part of marijuana is the denial,” Sabet said. Watch the full interview here.

Dr. Kevin Sabet speaks with Pat Miller about the U.S. Senate Banking Committee on the Addiction Banking Act and how S.1323 will help fuel the nation’s addiction crisis. Listen here.

Important Legislation Will Help Protect Public Health and Safety April 5, 2023 Official Release (LITTLE ROCK, AR) – Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) President and CEO Dr. Kevin Sabet, a former Clinton, Bush, and Obama drug policy advisor, released the following statement today in response to the passage of Senate Bill 358, which would ban […]

Key reasons for opposition include unregulated THC concentrations, impaired driving, youth-targeted marketing and marijuana-induced mental health concerns What: SAM to hold day long Summit at annual Rx Summit on marijuana policy issues Who: Patrick J. Kennedy; Kevin Sabet, Co-Founders of SAM; Head of Illinois NAACP Teresa Haley; Nora Volkow, Director of NIDA; Washington State Rep Lauren […]

Pot Poll: Majority of NJ Opposes Legalized Marijuana TRENTON – Put down the vape. The majority of New Jersey residents oppose legalizing recreational marijuana, according to a recent survey conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University. This marks the first time a recent poll in New Jersey has found less than 50 percent support for legalization.

Measuring Colorado’s “great experiment” with marijuana We’re far from CLEARING THE SMOKE over recreational marijuana use. A new federal policy announced this past week takes a tough line. It’s a challenge to states that have legalized use, including, most recently, the biggest state of all. Our Cover Story is reported by Barry Petersen: “I’ve never […]

Half of Americans support alternatives to full marijuana legalization: poll Half of Americans now support alternatives to full legalization of recreational marijuana use, according to a new poll following the Justice Department’s decision to change the federal law enforcement policy on the drug. (Josh Delk, The Hill) Half of Americans now support alternatives to full legalization of […]

(The Hill) Attorney General Jeff Sessions will roll back an Obama-era policy that gave states leeway to allow marijuana for recreational purposes. The Justice Department on Thursday afternoon released a memoannouncing that the so-called Cole memo — which ordered U.S. attorneys in states where marijuana has been legalized to deprioritize prosecution of marijuana-related cases — would be […]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Jeff Sessions has rescinded an Obama-era policy that paved the way for legalized marijuana to flourish in states across the country, creating new confusion about enforcement and use just three days after a new legalization law went into effect in California. President Donald Trump’s top law enforcement official announced the […]

As reported today in the Washington Post:   Wonkblog By Keith Humphreys December 12 at 6:30 AM The proportion of Americans who express support for marijuana legalization in opinion polls has risen sharply over the past decade from the low 30s to as high as 60 percent. But a new poll shows that what Americans who support “marijuana legalization” […]

WFYI Indianapolis Reports: The Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council Wednesday delivered a firm warning to state lawmakers about marijuana legalization. Leaders of the council say they’ll fight any legislation to legalize marijuana in the state, whether it’s for recreational or medical use. They levied a slew of arguments against legalization – that it functions as a […]

The Indy Channel reports: INDIANAPOLIS — The Association of Indiana Prosecuting Attorney’s are taking a stand against the proposed legalization of marijuana in the state. The group gathered with representatives from the Indiana Chamber and local law enforcement to share their message on Wednesday. Several bills regarding the legalization of marijuana are currently proposed to […]

NorthJersey.com reports: Sabet, an author, consultant, and former adviser to three U.S. presidential administrations, is taking part in a statewide effort to push for responsible marijuana policies. He said the marijuana industry has the potential to be the next Big Tobacco — “another legal industry that relies on addiction for profits.” He argued that when companies are […]

Last week, SAM President Dr. Kevin Sabet traveled to Ottawa to testify to Canada’s House of Commons Standing Committee on Health. Dr. Sabet voiced concern about marijuana legalization in Canada, highlighting the negative public health and safety consequences of marijuana legalization in U.S. states like Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. Prior to giving testimony, Dr. Sabet […]

Last month, SAM launched a new ad campaign in New Jersey called “Broken Promises” highlighting the false promise that marijuana legalization would solve social justice issues. The ads (below) ran online and in two New Jersey publications. Read NJ.com’s coverage of our efforts here, and find additional coverage from WOBM Radio here. SAM President Kevin Sabet […]

SAM Executive Vice President Jeff Zinsmeister went live with NPR’s AirTalk yesterday for a discussion of drug policy guidance under the new Justice Department. Listen to the full conversation here.

SAM Executive Vice President Jeff Zinsmeister penned an article debunking marijuana myths for Workforce Magazine. Read Jeff’s piece advising HR executives of best practices in the new legal marijuana environment here.

SAM President Kevin Sabet is profiled in Westword as “USA’s Most Influential Critic of Marijuana Legalization.” Read why he says the costs of legalization are outweighing benefits, and how SAM became an organization that takes cues from science here.

SAM President Kevin Sabet went live with NPR’s Tom Ashbrook for Tuesday’s “On Point” marijuana piece, discussing federal guidance and common-sense approaches to marijuana policy. Listen here.

On Monday, SAM held a press call for Nevada media, urging Nevada regulators to slow down, consider the consequences of legal pot in other states like Colorado, and implement safeguards. We were featured in news outlets including Nevada Public Radio and The Nevada Independent.

SAM President Kevin Sabet went live with Canada’s Business News Network (BNN) this week, arguing that North Americans don’t need another Big Tobacco – we already saw one lie to us for decades. Watch here.

SAM President Kevin Sabet commented for Las Vegas Review-Journal over the weekend, arguing that Nevadans should start examining the costs of marijuana legalization and spend more time putting safeguards into place. You can read the full piece here.

SAM President Kevin Sabet wrote an op-ed for CNBC arguing the commercial marijuana industry hasn’t lived up to its promises, and that by reasserting federal control over the exploding marijuana industry, we can prevent the commercialization of a drug that will put profits over public health – Read the full piece here.