SAM’s News

Marijuana advocates have seen years of progress on legalization. But three of the most prominent Republicans in the country are signaling the fight’s not done. Years of progress in the push for legal marijuana is hitting a sudden wall of opposition, thanks to a trio of potential future Republican presidential candidates. Over the last month, […]

The pot propagators of today can’t seem to agree on the origin of the annual “4/20” observance that is coming up Saturday — the backstory has various versions — and the marijuana-muddled minds that thought it up in the first place probably don’t remember. Whatever the dubious date is supposed to signify, permit us to […]

On April 1st, The Florida Supreme Court announced that a proposed constitutional amendment (Initiative #22-05) to legalize marijuana’s recreational use will appear on November ballots (South Dakotans will also see it). 60% of voters have to say yes for this to pass. So far, 13 states have legalized marijuana for medical use and 24 states have done so […]

Governor Glenn Youngkin approved employment protections for public sector workers on Monday, April 8. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 740,000 people in the Commonwealth work for the government. An original law passed in 2021 protected employee rights to use medical marijuana but didn’t specifically include public servants like firefighters, something JM Pedini, development […]

As the campaign to get recreational cannabis legalized in Florida moves into its next phase, opponents and advocates of the proposal are operating under the same premise: The measure is likely to receive at least majority support by the voters in November. But that’s not good enough in the Sunshine State, which requires more than […]

Kevin A. Sabet, the founder of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), is on a mission to educate the public on the acute dangers the substance presents to America.  Read the article HERE.

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Medical marijuana is already legal in Florida. If enough voters say yes come election day, anyone 21 and up can walk into those dispensaries and purchase up to three ounces of marijuana. On April 1st, the Florida Supreme Court gave the go-ahead to put legalizing marijuana on the November ballot. Florida would become the 25th state to […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Supreme Court ruled on Monday to allow a marijuana legalization amendment on the 2024 ballot. The amendment would allow for adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical, personal consumption. The initiative was put forth by Smart and Safe Florida. Currently, Florida allows medical marijuana […]

Bill to Legalize Marijuana Again Fails in Democrat-Controlled Hawaii  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 Hawaii House of Representatives rejecting a proposal to flood the state with marijuana […]

Check out the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) latest video featuring Dr. Kevin Sabet as he dives into the legalization debate in Germany and beyond. Watch now!

Recently Vice President Kamala Harris convened a roundtable about marijuana and criminal justice reform with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D), rapper Fat Joe, and individuals previously convicted of the offense of simple possession of marijuana who have been pardoned by President Biden. The message Harris delivered was simple: the Biden administration believes that “no one should be jailed for simply using” […]

On Thursday, Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed a bill that would have allowed the recreational retail sales of marijuana to begin next year. Gov. Youngkin said legalizing the recreational sale of marijuana would only hurt the Commonwealth. “Cannabis is bad for Virginia and in all other states that have had an extensive retail market, what […]

Read the article HERE.

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, in his role as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Mitt Romney sent a letter to DEA Administrator Anne Milgram expressing concerns over reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch and Senator Pete Ricketts also signed the letter. Dr. Kevin Sabet, President […]

Vice President Kamala Harris looked up from prepared remarks in the White House’s ornate Roosevelt Room this month to make sure the reporters there could hear her clearly: “Nobody should have to go to jail for smoking weed.” Harris’ “marijuana reform roundtable” was a striking reminder of how the politics have shifted for a onetime […]

Read Dr. Kevin Sabet in Newsweek: Now Is Congress’ Chance To Close Its Hemp Loophole—And Save Lives | Opinion Read SAM Executive Vice President Luke Niforatos in The Denver Gazette – Perspective: Missing the mark on marijuana

As the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate draft their versions of the Farm Bill, closing a loophole that has facilitated the nationwide proliferation of intoxicating hemp-derived THC products, like Delta-8 THC, should be a top priority. For America’s kids, the stakes could not be higher. Delta-8 THC is one of hundreds of cannabinoids found in the […]

President Joe Biden recently chose a few seconds of his State of the Union address to laud the progress his administration has made in pardoning marijuana offenses and his controversial rescheduling review that is now being conducted by the DEA at his request. True, people should not be imprisoned for simple marijuana possession (the fact […]

Sabet: “The biggest challenge we are all facing is turning our backs to the vision of a society where we prevent drug use before it starts and celebrate recovery.” (VIENNA, AUSTRIA) – In a rousing speech to the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) President Dr. Kevin Sabet warned international leaders gathered […]

Vice President Kamala Harris, with the help of rapper of Fat Joe, held a conversation on marijuana reform at the White House. “When the Vice President calls me, I stop everything,” said Fat Joe. Harris hosted the roundtable to highlight the administration’s efforts to free individuals jailed for nonviolent marijuana possession and expand opportunities once […]

THE HOUSE recently passed HB 1633-FN, a bill to legalize recreational marijuana. This is a commercialization sales model, which is directly opposite from the state-run system that Governor Chris Sununu said was the only type of business model he would accept. In 2023, Governor Sununu reversed his long standing promise to drug prevention and law enforcement […]

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Former Congressman and Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) Honorary Chairman Patrick J. Kennedy released the following statement today in advance of Vice President Kamala Harris’ roundtable on criminal justice reform, which is being co-opted by Big Marijuana, the new Big Tobacco: “For more than a decade we have said people should not be incarcerated for […]

Despite the risks, more states continue to legalize marijuana in some form.  Currently, only four states still fully ban it.  They are Idaho, Kansas, South Carolina, and Wyoming.  However, South Carolina is now considering legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. Kevin Sabet, Ph.D., president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, told CBN News he opposes that legislation. “I […]