Latest News
SAM Launches Ad Campaign: “We’ve Been Lied to Before…”
Urges Senators to Heed the Guidance of Public Health & Safety Experts on the Potential Harms Associated with Federal Marijuana Legalization Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) recently announced the launch of advertisements targeted toward United States Senators who have recently expressed their reluctance to support an effort being led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer […]
New Study: Youth Marijuana Addiction Rate Double Rate of Alcohol & Other Substance Use Disorders
An explosive study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics and conducted by prominent researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including the head of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, found that teenage marijuana users (aged 12-17) have double the prevalence of a use disorder (addiction) than nicotine, alcohol, and, in most categories of […]
New Mexico Lawmakers Legalize Marijuana
A bill legalizing marijuana and establishing a commercial market for the substance was passed by the New Mexico State Legislature after a special session dedicated to passing the bill was called by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) released the following statement in response: “The result of […]
New York Legislature Passes Bill to Commercialize Marijuana
Both houses of the New York State legislature approved a standalone bill to legalize marijuana and establish a commercial market for its sale. The bill now heads to the desk of Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has promised to sign it into law. Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and its New […]
New Study: Secondhand Marijuana Smoke More Hazardous Than Secondhand Tobacco Smoke
A new study found that secondhand marijuana smoke could be more hazardous to one’s health than secondhand smoke from cigarettes. The study compared emissions of fine particles, or particulate matter (PM 2.5) from tobacco smoke and marijuana smoke and found that the PM 2.5 emission rate of pre-rolled marijuana joints was 3.5 times higher than […]
Marijuana Banking Bill Re-Introduced in the U.S. House
The so-called “SAFE Banking Act,” a bill that would grant the marijuana industry access to the federal banking system and open the doors to Wall Street investment, was introduced in the United States House of Representatives. Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and a former senior drug policy advisor to the […]
Virginia Legislature Legalizes Marijuana
Both houses of the Virginia Legislature agreed to a finalized version of the bill to commercialize marijuana in the commonwealth. If this bill is to be signed into law, Virginia will become only the third state in the nation to commercialize marijuana via the legislative process. Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana […]
SAM Statement on New Jersey Legalization Regulations Bill Being Signed into Law
On his 1,133rd day in office, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill to implement marijuana commercialization into law. Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and its New Jersey affiliate, New Jersey Responsible Approaches to Marijuana Policy (NJ-RAMP), released the following statement in response: “We’ve fought against an extremely well-funded […]
SAM President Dr. Kevin Sabet Testifies in NY Joint Committee Hearing
Smart Approaches to Marijuana New York (SAM New York) President & Co-Founder Dr. Kevin Sabet testified in opposition to a proposal to legalize and commercialize marijuana through the New York State Budget as part of a Joint Legislative Public Hearing. In his testimony, Dr. Sabet laid out why the proposal to legalize marijuana should be […]
New York Coalition Holds Press Conference Opposing Marijuana Commercialization Effort
A coalition of experts on drug policy, medical professionals, prevention workers, law enforcement, and education advocates held a virtual press conference outlining their opposition to the effort to legalize marijuana in NYS. Click here to view a recording of the press conference. Quotes from Speakers: Dr. Kevin Sabet, author of Smokescreen, president of Smart Approaches […]
Senate Drug Caucus Recommends Further Research On THC Potency Limits & Drugged Driving
A comprehensive report compiled by the United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control outlined the latest research on marijuana use and mental health and highlighted issues related to the explosive growth in THC potency and marijuana-impaired driving. “It’s refreshing to see a committee of the United States Senate recognize the reality that both today’s […]
New Study: Marijuana Legalization Associated with Increased Youth Use in California
According to a new study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, youth who live in California may be more likely to use marijuana since the implementation of marijuana legalization in 2016. The study looked at data from more than three million 7th, 9th, and 11th graders and found significant increases in […]