Latest News
President Biden’s 2023 Budget Rejects Marijuana Commercialization
(Alexandria, VA) – Sticking to campaign promises, President Biden’s new budget, released minutes ago, rejected marijuana commercialization in several major ways. It does not extend Justice Department protections to legal marijuana states, meaning federal resources can still be used to enforce marijuana laws. Additionally, the budget does not give the District of Columbia latitude to […]
U.S. Senate Passes SAM-Supported Bill Easing Access to Marijuana Research
(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 […]
New Tobacco and Alcohol Funded Report On Youth Marijuana Use and Legalization Deeply Flawed
(Alexandria, VA) – Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) released a rebuttal to a new report from the Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education, and Regulation (CPEAR), a group funded by Molson Coors, Altria (Philip Morris), private cash and other companies. The report asserted that marijuana legalization is not tied to increases in youth marijuana use–something not supported by their evidence […]
Virginia Marijuana Legalization Bill Defeated; Public Health and Safety Groups Claim Victory
(Alexandria, VA) – Today, a bill to establish a commercial marijuana market in Virginia died in a House of Delegates Subcommittee. This tremendous victory for public health follows a year-long push by the marijuana industry to pass a bill supported by the industry and its investors, including the Big Tobacco giant Altria. A broad coalition […]
South Dakota Marijuana Legalization Bill Defeated; Public Health and Safety Groups Claim Victory
(Pierre, SD) – Today, a bill to legalize marijuana in South Dakota died in the House State Affairs Committee. This tremendous victory for public health follows a year-long push by the marijuana industry to pass a bill supported by the industry and its investors. A broad coalition including Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), law enforcement […]
SAM State and Local Leadership Update
SAM remains active in more than three dozen states, in addition to our work federally (check out our Webinar last week with NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow). Today alone, we are in Ohio speaking with a dozen legislators and on TV, conducting three radio interviews in three different states, meeting with top federal drug officials […]
New Emerson College Poll Finds 53% of New Hampshire Voters Oppose Commercialized Marijuana Market
(Concord, NH) – According to a new state Emerson College poll, 53% of New Hampshire voters do not support legalizing marijuana when presented with other, non-legalization policy options. This poll is significant to state lawmakers as the marijuana industry has renewed its annual push to expand into The Granite State, which allows for possession of the drug, but […]
New Emerson College Poll Finds 55% of Maryland Voters Oppose Commercialized Marijuana Market
(Annapolis, MD) – According to a new state Emerson College poll, 55% of Maryland voters do not support legalizing marijuana when presented with other, non-legalization policy options. This poll is significant to state lawmakers as the marijuana industry has renewed its annual push to expand into the Old Line State, which allows for possession of the drug, […]
BREAKING: New Poll Finds 62% of Americans Favor Marijuana Policies Other Than Legalization
(Alexandria, VA) – According to a new national Emerson College poll, 62% of registered voters do not support legalizing marijuana when presented with other, non-legalization policy options. Polls touted by promoters of the marijuana industry as showing widespread support for legalization offer a false dichotomy by perpetuating the myth that there are only two options, full legalization […]
“SAFE” Banking Act Excluded from NDAA Bill
(Alexandria, VA) – Today, following negotiations between the House and Senate, the “SAFE” Banking Act was defeated yet again, as it is now officially excluded from the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, a large annual bill that sets policy for the Pentagon. Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) released the […]
Annual Youth Drug Use Survey Funded by NIH Finds Youth Marijuana Use Stubbornly High
(Alexandria, VA) – Today, the annual Monitoring the Future (MTF) Survey, a record of national youth drug and alcohol use and attitudes data, conducted by the University of Michigan and funded by the National Institutes of Health, found that due to the pandemic causing decreased social interactions, youth drug use rates have dropped among almost […]
Connecticut House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora Receives Patrick J. Kennedy Advocate of the Year Award
(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 […]