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Niforatos: Debunking the myth: Every dollar of marijuana tax revenue is associated with $4.50 in costs
Those who have been following the legalization of marijuana have likely heard the familiar industry refrain that commercializing the drugs will generate a mound of tax revenue for state governments starved for cash. As legal weed marks a decade, the data tells a much different tale. This trend is not unique to Colorado, as marijuana […]
Fox 43: Gov. Shapiro asks lawmakers to legalize cannabis in the Commonwealth
Opponents of legalization like John Daviau, the director of state affairs for the nonprofit Smart Approaches to Marijuana, pointed to several concerns. “You’re going to see a 17% increase in substance abuse disorders. You’re going to see a 35% increase in chronic homelessness,” Daviau said. “And a 13% increase in arrests across the state.” READ/WATCH: […]
SHAPIRO FALLING FOR BIG POT’S BIG PROMISES
The Data are CLEAR: Drugs Aren’t Social Justice, Won’t Bring Tax Revenue HARRISBURG, PA) – 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 Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s budget, which proposes opening […]
ONE YEAR ON, MISSOURI SHOWS NO SIGNS OF ADDRESSING THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH TODAY’S HIGH-POTENCY THC DRUGS
On Anniversary of Legal THC Drug Sales, SAM Calls for State Leaders to Act to Protect Young People (JEFFERSON CITY, MO) – Dr. Kevin Sabet, President of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and a former White House drug policy advisor to Presidents Obama, Bush, and Clinton, released the following statement in advance of the one-year anniversary of […]
FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND CONCURRENT CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION INTRODUCED TO COMBAT THE GROWING PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH-POTENCY MARIJUANA AND THC DRUGS
Resolution Introduced in the Senate by Senator Pete Ricketts and in the House by Rep. Pete Sessions Highlights Risks Associated with the Commercial Marijuana Industry’s Addictive High-Potency Pot Products (WASHINGTON, DC) – In a first-of-its-kind move, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) have filed a Concurrent Congressional Resolution outlining the dangers […]
“….the lie that America is legalizing pot safely…”
Kevin Sabet, an anti-pot campaigner and former White House drug tsar, not only blames the marijuana she smoked, but also the $30 billion-a-year business behind it. ‘Big Weed’ is pushing ever more potent versions of pot’s active ingredient, THC, on a generation of unsuspecting Americans, he warns. ‘The marijuana industry’s lies and misinformation are directly to blame […]
SAM 1/19/24 Friday Fact – Controversy Uncovered: Three Marijuana Companies Advertise Products with a THC Potency Over 100% But Deny In-Store Sales
Report Highlights: In the realm of marijuana regulation, a concerning issue has come to light, emphasizing the failure of states to effectively regulate the industry. Several dispensaries have been caught promoting THC potencies on their websites that defy scientific limits. Three notable marijuana stores currently advertise THC vape products with potencies exceeding 100%, a scientifically […]
A third way is needed to address Oregon’s drug crisis
“The debate over Measure 110, passed in 2020, was framed as “treatment over incarceration” for drug offenders. It seems all of us have now learned how wrong this framing was. What appeared to be a constructive debate about finding a better response to drug use was in fact a ballot measure that made drug use a […]
Billion dollar marijuana operation, illegally run by Chinese nationals in the U.S.
“What we’re seeing in legal states is that the black market for marijuana continues to beat the legal market,” said drug policy expert and Vice President of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, Luke Niforatos. It’s legal to grow weed in the state of Maine – you can actually grow about 3 mature plants but border patrol […]
SAM 1/12/24 Friday Fact: Significant Rise in Marijuana Vape Use Among Youth
Report Highlights: We must unite in our efforts to safeguard the well-being of our youth and prevent the long-term consequences of early drug exposure. We look forward to discussing how we can collectively address this issue.
ONE YEAR ON, PUBLIC DESERVES DATA TO EVALUATE IMPACT OF CONNECTICUT’S COMMERCIAL POT SALES
Legislators Urged to Further Reform the State’s Program to Protect Public Health and Safety (HARTFORD, CT) – Dr. Kevin Sabet, President of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and a former drug policy advisor to Presidents Obama, Bush, and Clinton, released the following statement in advance of the one-year anniversary of commercial marijuana sales in Connecticut: “Trends across the nation […]
SAM 1/5/24 Friday Fact: Unveiling Delta-8 THC – Legal Status, Rising Concerns, and Urgent Need for Action
What is Delta-8 THC and How Did it Get Legalized: Delta-8 THC is a cannabinoid found in the hemp plant and is structurally similar to Delta-9 THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana that makes people feel “high.” Delta-8 THC was inadvertently legalized in 2018 when that year’s Farm Bill legalized hemp. Hemp is required to […]