SAM’s News

Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni June 26 is International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (ROME, ITALY) – Gripped by an unprecedented drug crisis that is devastating families and fueling profits for drug cartels, Smart Approaches to Marijuana and the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS) today called on political leaders around the world to advance public policies focused on evidence-based prevention, treatment, […]

“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.

(Washington, DC) — Today, President Joe Biden pardoned “all current United States citizens and lawful permanent residents who committed the offense of simple possession of marijuana in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.” Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) President and CEO Dr. Kevin Sabet, the marijuana lead at the White House drug office from 2009–2011 […]

(Fargo, North Dakota) –– Today, Healthy and Productive North Dakota was filed to oppose the passage of Measure 2, the ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana in North Dakota. The committee was filed by Kristie Spooner, LSW, who is an addiction counselor in Fargo, North Dakota, and served as the Chair of the campaign that […]

(New York, NY) The Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS), a new, transformative, global 501(c)(3) “think and do” tank launching today at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, has been formed in response to the raging addiction crisis and the arcane complications to supporting population-level policies aimed at reducing substance use initiation and disorder. The launch, which […]

(Washington, DC)- In an open letter to Senators Chuck Schumer, Cory Booker and Ron Wyden, a coalition of organizations representing medical professionals, treatment specialists, faith communities, families and other stakeholders raises concerns over the health and safety risks of the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act––this bill, which lacks many safeguards for public health, would deschedule and legalize […]

(Washington, DC) —Last week, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) reintroduced a bill (S.4628) which SAM helped to draft in 2017 that prohibits the sale of candy-flavored marijuana products to minors. The bill has 25 cosponsors. The introduction follows recent warning letters from the FDA on copycat pot products and letters to Congress from famous brands like Pepsi […]

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 […]

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the U.S. Senate passed the SAM-supported Cannabidiol Medical Marihuana Research Expansion Act. The bipartisan bill – which SAM helped to write – is sponsored by Senators Feinstein, Grassley, and Schatz, and would amend the Controlled Substances Act to remove some barriers that prevent researchers from adequately evaluating the potential risks and […]

(Alexandria, VA) – Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), the nation’s leading organization opposing the commercialization of marijuana, is proud to announce that Connecticut House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora is the recipient of the 2021 Patrick J. Kennedy Advocate of the Year Award, given to an advocate at the state-level who best champions the mission […]

The expanded use of marijuana has demonstrated harms to public health through increased drugged driving fatalities, workplace accidents, development of mental health problems, and public exposure to second-hand smoke. The harms are particularly acute for children and adolescents, those with mental illness, those with predisposition to addictions, and pregnant women. The commercialization of marijuana leads […]

During an interview with Barclays Investments on September 5, 2018, tobacco industry executives from Altria (the parent company of tobacco giant Philip Morris) indicated their interest in taking advantage of marijuana as a new product line: Gaurav Jain (Barclays) There has been quite a bit of interest in the cannabis space, especially given recent news […]

BREAKING: Marijuana Legalization Defeated Again in Vermont National Marijuana Policy Group Applauds Defeat of Marijuana Commercialization in Vermont  For Immediate Release: Monday, April 30, 2018 Contact: Colton Grace Colton@learnaboutsam.org 864-492-6719 [Montpelier, VT] – On Friday, the Vermont House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to kill a bill that would have fully legalized the commercialization of marijuana. […]

Poll presents voters with only two options on marijuana policy, contradicted by Mason-Dixon poll. CHICAGO – Today, the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute released a poll of Illinois voters that purports to show overwhelming support for the legalization of marijuana. The poll shows that 66% of voters in the state were supportive of the legalization […]

Jersey City, NJ – Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), and it’s affiliate, NJ Responsible Approaches to Marijuana (NJ-RAMP), will be testifying about the impact of marijuana legalization in front of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus. You can watch it live here!   WHO:  New Jersey Responsible Approaches to Marijuana Policy (NJ-RAMP) Coalition Members, including Kevin […]

Auto Club and SAM Believe A Collective Pause Needs To Be Taken Before Maryland Considers Legalizing Recreational Marijuana  TOWSON, MD (February 20, 2018) — Mid-Atlantic and Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) are opposing a marijuana legalization bill being heard today at 1:00 p.m. in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee in Annapolis that would impact traffic safety on […]

NEW ILLINOIS MASON-DIXON POLL SHOWS  LARGE MAJORITY OPPOSES LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA  Poll finds only 23% support the legalization of recreational marijuana; 69% want other options such as maintaining current decriminalization law CHICAGO – The majority of voters in Illinois oppose legalizing recreational marijuana, according to a recent poll conducted by Mason-Dixon and paid for by SAM Action, a non-profit organization sponsoring Healthy & […]

Report by prominent marijuana policy group finds costs would outweigh any tax revenue under legalization HARTFORD, CT – Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), in conjunction with the Connecticut chapter of SAM (CT-SAM), released a comprehensive report on the projected costs of legalization in Connecticut — finding that legalization would cost the state $216 million, far outweighing even […]

NEW FDU POLL SHOWS MAJORITY OF NEW JERSEYANS OPPOSE LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA “Anyone who expected legalization to happen quickly and easily might reconsider given these findings,” said Krista Jenkins to the Star-Ledger, professor of political science and director of the FDU Poll. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 1, 2018   CONTACT:  Jeanette Hoffman 908-418-0859   TRENTON – The […]

Statement by SAM on Vermont Governor Signing Possession Legislation (January 22, 2018 – Alexandria, VA) “Today, Governor Phil Scott signed H.511 into law, permitting adults over 21 to possess and cultivate marijuana beginning in July of this year. Unlike some reports, this bill will not legalize marijuana sales. While SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana) always […]

Contact: SAM Press Office/Luke Niforatos            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   press@learnaboutsam.org; 303-335-7584                                January 17, 2018   New National Poll Shows Support for Marijuana Legalization Dips Below 50% When Voters Are Given Other Policy Choices Mason-Dixon poll on marijuana finds support […]

Contact: SAM Press Office/Luke Niforatos          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  press@learnaboutsam.org; 303-335-7584           January 4, 2018 DOJ WILL RESCIND COLE MEMO, PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMUNITIES APPLAUD MOVE DOJ Decision Will Dry Up Money To Marijuana Industry   (January 4, 2018 – Alexandria, VA) – The Department of Justice will announce today […]