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(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 […]

(Washington, DC) — Today, The House of Representatives passed the groundbreaking, bipartisan Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act (H.R. 8454) by a 325-95 vote. This legislation is the most significant advancement in marijuana research reform in several years. The bill, which SAM helped draft and has supported for several years, streamlines the application process […]

(Washington, DC) Today, Senators Booker, Schumer, and Wyden introduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), a bill that would legalize and commercialize marijuana nationwide. “The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act marches forward on unchecked marijuana legalization, despite the challenges plaguing states with legal weed,” said Kevin Sabet, Ph.D, co-founder and President of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) […]

(Denver, CO) –– Today, the Colorado School of Public Health’s Cannabis Research & Policy Project released the HB 21-1317 potency Report to the Colorado Legislature, which detailed high-potency marijuana’s harms on the state of Colorado. Last year’s regulatory overhaul law, HB1317, established a Scientific Review Council to make evidence-based recommendations to the Colorado General Assembly about regulatory changes and […]

(Washington, D.C.) – Earlier this week, preliminary data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) was published for the first time since its discontinuation in 2011. DAWN is a nationwide public health surveillance system that records drug-related emergency department visit data. This year’s report, containing data collected in […]

(Dover, Delaware) Today, days after strong advocacy by SAM and its allies, Governor John Carney (D) issued a veto on House Bill 371, a bill that would have drastically expanded marijuana commercialization in the state. “This was Governor Carney’s Big Tobacco moment–and he did the right thing,” said Patrick J. Kennedy, Smart Approaches to Marijuana Co-Founder and Honorary […]

(Silver Spring, Maryland) Today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued several warning letters to CBD and THC companies who are illegally selling and marketing products for human and animal use containing Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as Delta-8 THC, and infusing them in gummi bears and other candies, pet products, oils, and other foods. Dr. Kevin […]

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. House of Representatives passed the SAM-supported Medical Marijuana Research Act. The bipartisan bill would remove some barriers that prevent researchers from adequately evaluating the potential risks and benefits of the use of marijuana and its derivatives. Notably, more than 30,000 research studies have been done on the drug under […]

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text](Washington, D.C.) – Today, the United States House of Representatives passed the MORE Act, a bill to federally legalize and commercialize marijuana. Despite […]