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IN SPITE OF SMALL IMPROVEMENTS, SPANBERGER AND LEGISLATOR CAVE TO THE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY
RICHMOND, VA—Last month, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger showed real courage by vetoing legislation that would have legalized commercial marijuana in Virginia. While we commended the Governor’s veto and her public statements on the negative impact of commercial marijuana on public health, we are disappointed that she agreed to include commercial legalization in this year’s budget. […]
SAM ACTION CELEBRATES AS SENSIBLE MARIJUANA POLICY QUESTION HEADS TO MASSACHUSETTS VOTERS
BOSTON, MA—SAM Action applauds the Massachusetts Supreme Court for its unanimous decision to allow “An Act to Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy” to appear on the statewide ballot on November 3, 2026, giving the people of Massachusetts the chance to decide the future of commercial marijuana for themselves. “Voters will now have the final say […]
SAM APPLAUDS PENNSYLVANIA SENATE FOR REJECTING SB 49, THANKS PARENTS WHO MADE THEIR VOICES HEARD
HARRISBURG, PA—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today applauds the Pennsylvania Senate for rejecting Senate Bill 49, which failed by a 23–27 vote earlier this week. The bill would have established a new marijuana control board—a structure the marijuana industry has openly backed as a first step toward Pennsylvania’s ultimate goal of recreational legalization. It would also have created a […]
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE BARS MARIJUANA PURCHASES USING WORKERS’ COMPENSATION DOLLARS, DEMANDS CDC REVIEW ON YOUTH CHS
Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) applauds the House Appropriations Committee for advancing legislation yesterday that bars workers’ compensation funds from being used to purchase marijuana products. In a March ruling (Peña Garcia v. Director, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs), the Second Circuit established that marijuana’s Schedule I status prohibits injured employees from using workers’ […]
SAM APPEALS CMS HEMP PILOT RULING TO D.C. CIRCUIT
Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today announced that it has filed a Notice of Appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, challenging a district court judgment entered that upheld the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Substance Access Beneficiary Engagement Initiative (BEI)—a pilot program that would let Medicare […]
SAM CONDEMNS TRULIEVE’S NYSE LISTING AS A DARK DAY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
WASHINGTON, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) today condemned the New York Stock Exchange’s decision to list Trulieve Cannabis—the first U.S. marijuana company to secure a spot. Trulieve’s shares are set to begin trading on June 10, a milestone made possible only by the Trump administration’s reckless reclassification of marijuana to Schedule III earlier this year. […]
SAM APPLAUDS STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL FOR CHALLENGING FEDERAL MARIJUANA RESCHEDULING ORDER
Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) applauds the state attorneys general from Nebraska, Louisiana, and Indiana for filing a joint legal challenge to the Administration’s final order reclassifying state-legal medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. These challenges were subsequently consolidated with SAM’s petition in the D.C. Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. “We welcome […]
SAM FILES NOTICE OF INTENT TO PARTICIPATE IN DEA RESCHEDULING HEARING
Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) announced it has formally filed notice of its intent to participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s rescheduling hearing, scheduled to begin June 29, 2026, and will oppose the agency’s proposed rule to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. “This fight is not […]
COURT DISMISSES ON STANDING GROUNDS: SAM VOWS TO CONTINUE FIGHT AGAINST FEDERAL HEMP REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM
Washington, DC—Today, in the District Court of Appeals of Washington, D.C., Trump-appointed Judge Trevor McFadden dismissed SAM and its co-plaintiffs’ challenge to the CMS BEI (“low dose hemp-THC”) program for lack of standing. Kevin A. Sabet, President and CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), issued the following statement: “We fundamentally disagree with the court’s […]
SAM APPLAUDS DEMOCRATIC GOV. SPANBERGER FOR HISTORIC VETO OF COMMERCIAL MARIJUANA BILL
RICHMOND, VA—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) applauds Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, for vetoing legislation that would have opened a commercial marijuana market in the Commonwealth of Virginia. “While President Trump is caving to corporate interests by approving flavored vapes, Governor Spanberger is saying no to a new Big Tobacco,” says SAM CEO Kevin […]
SAM APPLAUDS HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE FOR ADVANCING BILL TO BLOCK MARIJUANA RESCHEDULING, ENFORCE HEMP-THC BAN, AND INVESTIGATE CCP-CONNECTED MARIJUANA BANKING
Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) applauds the House Appropriations Committee for passing landmark anti-marijuana legislation in its Fiscal Year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The package prohibits the Department of Justice from rescheduling marijuana and includes report language demanding enforcement of the 2025 ban on intoxicating hemp. The Committee also […]
SAM APPLAUDS HISTORIC CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY
Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) applauds Burke Law Group and many other domain experts for their historic lawsuit against the marijuana industry. This is the first lawsuit of its kind and a major step forward in efforts to defend public health. “For years, the marijuana industry has operated with impunity—downplaying risks and leaving families […]