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Benchmark Youth Drug Use Survey Finds Marijuana Vaping Has Doubled, Daily Use Significantly Increased

Daily marijuana use and marijuana vaping has significantly increased in the last year according to new data from the largest, most comprehensive drug use survey of students in the United States. The 2019 Monitoring the Future survey, compiled by researchers at the University of Michigan and funded by the National Institutes of Health, is the […]

Policy Groups Send Coalition Letter Thanking Senator Mike Crapo for Slowing Marijuana Banking Legislation

A broad coalition of national and state policy groups sent a letter to United States Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) expressing their concerns with the SAFE Banking Act and thanking Senator Crapo for slowing down what seemed at first to be a rushed process to grant the marijuana industry access to the federal banking system. “In […]

New Study: Marijuana Impaired Traffic Deaths Doubled in Washington State Following Legalization

Today, a new study released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found the percentage of drivers in Washington State involved in fatal car crashes testing positive for marijuana has doubled since the state “legalized” marijuana for recreational use in 2012. “Marijuana-impaired driving is rising across all states that have ‘legalized’ marijuana and this study […]

Coalition of New Mexico Groups Urge Lawmakers to Oppose Marijuana Legalization

A coalition of public health and safety groups, business coalitions, and representatives of New Mexico state law enforcement gathered in the Capitol Rotunda to host a press conference urging lawmakers to oppose the passage of any legislation legalizing and commercializing recreational marijuana. “As a Coloradan, I can speak firsthand as to the results of marijuana […]

Constituents of NYS Senator Pete Harckham Urge Him to Oppose Marijuana Legalization

A group of concerned New Yorkers gathered in front of NYS Senator Pete Harckham’s District Office to host a press conference urging Senator Harckham to join the majority of public health and safety organizations in NYS and oppose the passage of any bill creating a commercial marijuana industry in New York. This gathering, led by […]

Virginia Substance Abuse Groups and Law Enforcement Urge Lawmakers to Oppose Marijuana Legalization

Representatives from public health and law enforcement groups gathered at the Virginia General Assembly Building in Richmond to host a press conference urging lawmakers to oppose the passage of any legislation legalizing and commercializing recreational marijuana in the Commonwealth of Virginia. “Marijuana legalization efforts and the rhetoric surrounding them send a dangerous message to the […]

Emerson College Poll Finds Majority of New Mexico Voters Do Not Support Marijuana Legalization

A poll conducted by Emerson College found 63% of New Mexico voters are opposed to the full legalization of marijuana when given a full spectrum of policy options. Additionally, the poll found that when voters learn that the marijuana industry features large investments from Big Tobacco and alcohol conglomerates and that legalized states have experienced […]

CDC DATA: Over 130 Cases of Vaping Illness Victims Purchased Products Exclusively From “Commercial Sources”

Today, in a massive release of data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it has been confirmed that out of 809 patients reporting data on the source of the marijuana products use prior to becoming sick, 131 reported purchasing products exclusively from commercial sources. What’s more, 627 reported products from “informal sources” such as […]

SAM New York Response to Governor Cuomo’s State of the State Address

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo presented his annual State of the State Address in Albany. In his address, the governor repeated his call from last year to pass a bill legalizing the commercial sale of marijuana. The legislature failed to pass a bill accomplishing this last year due to the efforts of Smart Approaches to […]

State-Based Drug Use Survey Finds Marijuana Use Skyrocketing in “Legal” States

State-level data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the most authoritative study on drug use conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), finds that marijuana use in “legal” states among youth, young adults, and the general population continued its multi-year upward trend in several categories. Additionally, use rates in […]

Government Funding Bill Stripped of Multiple Pro-Marijuana Industry Amendments; Pro-Health and Safety Groups Applaud Bipartisan Deal

Today, a government funding bill was stripped of numerous pro-marijuana industry amendments that would grant the industry access to the US financial system, allow Washington D.C. to institute a commercial marijuana market, and prevent enforcement of federal law and even basic federal oversight in states that have “legalized” the substance. Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of […]

New Jersey Coalition Urges Lawmakers to Oppose Marijuana Ballot Vote

Today, a coalition of concerned New Jersey policy groups, substance abuse workers, social justice advocates, and representatives of law enforcement gathered at the New Jersey State House to host a press conference calling on lawmakers to oppose placing marijuana legalization on the 2020 ballot. “The pot advocates here in Trenton are desperate to institute their […]