Latest News
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 […]
New Colorado Report Outlines Drastic Increases in Harms to Public Health & Safety
Today, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) released their bi-annual “Monitoring Health Concerns Related to Marijuana in Colorado” report. The report finds there have been significant increases in past-month and daily or near-daily use among adults, marijuana-impaired driving, exposures in children under the age of five, and use of high potency forms […]
VA American Academy of Medical Ethics Urges Lawmakers to Reject Marijuana Commercialization
As a bill to commercialize marijuana is being moved swiftly through the Virginia legislature, the Virginia American Academy of Medical Ethics (AAME) is circulating a letter to lawmakers presenting the current state of the data on marijuana and urging them to slow the rush to legalize and commercialize the drug. “As physicians and Virginia State […]
Legalization Bills Defeated in New Hampshire
By a vote a 14-7, the New Hampshire House Criminal Justice & Public Safety Committee voted to “retain” two bills to expand marijuana use in the state, effectively ending any chance at either bill passing this year. The move represents a multi-year trend of public health and safety advocates defeating the efforts of the marijuana […]
Coalition of Virginia Substance Abuse, Medical Professionals & Law Enforcement Urge Lawmakers to Oppose Marijuana Commercialization
A coalition of Virginia substance abuse prevention professionals, health and safety advocates, and representatives of state law enforcement hosted a virtual press conference announcing the launch of their combined opposition to an effort to commercialize marijuana in this year’s legislative session. “The push to commercialize marijuana in Virginia is being presented as a move for […]
SAM Responds to Governor Cuomo’s Budget Proposal
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled his proposed state budget, which featured a projection of $300 million in revenue from marijuana commercialization. In response, Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and its New York affiliate, SAM New York, released the following statement: “At this time, marijuana should be the furthest thing […]
California Upholds Judge’s Ruling Banning Marijuana Billboards; SAM Rejoices
A California judge just affirmed a ruling from last week stating marijuana companies in the state will no longer be able to advertise their products on billboards along interstate highways. Given the overwhelming amount of research that finds that exposure to marijuana advertising greatly increases the likelihood of youth marijuana use, this should be considered […]
SAM Releases Drug Policy Recommendations for Biden Administration; Congratulates ReGina LaBelle
Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), the nation’s leading organization opposed to the commercialization of marijuana, released a comprehensive roadmap for the Biden Administration centered on the President-Elect’s marijuana policy position and the platform of the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force. The release of the report coincides with today’s swearing-in of former White House Office of National […]
Massive Study: Marijuana Use in Vets Overwhelmingly Associated with Negative Outcomes
A systematic review of over 500 studies on marijuana use and military veterans published in the journal Clinical Psychology Review — the first of its kind — found that marijuana use among veterans was associated with primarily negative outcomes such as other substance abuse, mental health issues, and instances of self-harm/suicidality. The review stated that […]