SAM’s News

20-Year Australian Study Found Marijuana May Not Be an Effective Long-Term Method of Reducing Harm for Those with an Opioid Use Disorder (WASHINGTON, DC) – A 20-year study out of Australia, recently published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, has found “no evidence to suggest cannabis reduces illicit opioid use, and it may not be an effective long-term […]

As more states move to legalize pot, concerns about the drug’s long-term effects multiply “Luke Niforatos is the executive vice president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, an alliance of organizations and individuals opposed to marijuana legalization and commercialization. He argued marijuana makes people more vulnerable to opioid addiction. In a pamphlet, his organization cites a […]

Legal challenges are pending across the country against a federal law that prevents medical marijuana users from buying or owning firearms. Read the entire article HERE.

(CONCORD, NH) – Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action (SAM Action) President Dr. Kevin Sabet, a former White House drug policy advisor to Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton, released the following statement today in response to the New Hampshire cannabis commission’s vote to conclude its work without putting forward recommendations for THC drug legalization: “This commission […]

The DEA is expected to follow HHS’ recommendation and move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. Kevin Sabet, a former drug policy adviser and president and CEO of Smart Approach to Marijuana, a political organization opposed to the legalization and commercialization of marijuana, told City & State that he was “shocked” by HHS’ move.  […]

“After a multi-million-dollar effort and numerous failures, advocates of marijuana legalization finally succeeded in Ohio this month. Voters approved a referendum to legalize the non-medical use of the drug 57-43 percent. Though the harms caused by the legalization of marijuana cannot be undone, policymakers in states with any form of legal marijuana must take additional […]

Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a bipartisan organization made up of health experts, lawmakers and others that oppose marijuana legalization and commercialization, said the “hoax” was disappointing. “I received dozens of comments and thoughts from young people either in recovery [from cannabis use disorder], or contemplating recovery, who were inspired by his words.” […]

In less than 24 months, New Mexico’s state-legal marijuana marketplace has ballooned to more than 1,000 licensed pot shops. At the signing ceremony for the Cannabis Regulation Act of 2021, the bill that commercialized marijuana statewide, state officials claimed, “This is the right model for New Mexico because it creates a local, sustainable and regulated […]

Millions more Americans got hooked on marijuana last year and some 100,000 teenagers tried it for the first time, anti-pot activists say about the latest official data. Kevin Sabet, a former White House drugs tsar who now campaigns against breakneck legalization, said the government’s annual survey of substance abuse revealed ‘more users and more addiction.’ The number […]

 New Online Platform and Email Digest Provides the Latest News, Research and Commentary on the Nation’s Drug Crisis and Policy Debates Site Offers Aggregated Content from Traditional Media, Scientific Journals, Other Platforms (WASHINGTON, DC) – The nation’s leading drug policy organizations and their partners, including Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS), have launched a […]

Youth Use Rising Across Age Groups, While Perceptions of Risk Decrease (WASHINGTON, DC) – Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) President Dr. Kevin Sabet, one of the nation’s foremost experts on marijuana policy and a former White House drug policy advisor to Presidents Obama, Clinton and Bush, released the following statement today in response to the release of the 2022 […]

“We have this addiction for-profit industry that needs to drive the train. And that’s really probably the biggest concern because, again, they need to target youth and young adults to be profitable,” said Daviau. Read the entire article HERE.

“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.