Latest News
New Study Shows No Evidence Marijuana Reduces Illicit Opioid Use
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 […]
World News Group: Potent marijuana’s higher highs bring lower lows
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 […]
New York Times: Federal Law Requires a Choice: Marijuana or a Gun?
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.
SAM 12/01/23 Friday Fact: Violent Crime Spikes After Marijuana Legalization in Four States
Report Highlights: The examination of the graph depicting the impact of recreational marijuana legalization on violent crime rates reveals notable variations among states. This underscores the critical need for continuous research efforts to comprehensively understand the complex dynamics at play. Policymakers and researchers should actively utilize this data to make informed decisions that strike a […]
Governor Sununu’s Pot Push Fizzles
(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 […]
As another neighboring state moves forward on recreational marijuana, Pennsylvania remains stuck in neutral
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. […]
Kevin Sabet in Newsweek: Legalization Doesn’t Make THC Drugs Any Less Risky
“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 […]
SAM 11/24/23 Friday Fact: Marijuana Flower Potency Forecast
Report Highlights: Actual vs. Predicted THC Percentage: Our report tracks the surge in THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) levels in marijuana flowers from 1995 to 2021 and projects THC levels up to 2035. In just a few decades, the average THC percentage has soared from 3.96% to over 15%, with predictions showing further increases. As we delve into […]
Snoop Dogg said he quit smoking, but it was a ruse. Here’s why some experts aren’t laughing.
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.” […]
Luke Niforatos in the Albuquerque Journal: Federal background checks necessary to ensure system is protecting public safety
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 of Americans got hooked on pot and started driving-while-stoned last year as ‘predatory Big Marijuana’ lured 100,000 teen users: government data show toll of legalization
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 […]
NOW LIVE: THE DRUG REPORT
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 […]