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Big Marijuana, Big Money, Big Politics Part Two: New York
New York serves as an interesting case study with regard to marijuana money and legalization. Despite the cash that industry proponents poured into politics leading up to this year’s crucial debate, marijuana legalization was not passed. The state currently has a comprehensive medical marijuana program, and new legislation, under the guise of social justice, would […]
Purdue Pharma Declares Bankruptcy
Former senior drug policy advisor to President Barack Obama, Dr. Kevin Sabet, President of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) released the following response to Purdue Pharmaceuticals’ announcement it has filed for bankruptcy protection in the wake of more than 2,000 lawsuits and billions in potential payouts in connection to the nation’s opioid crisis. Purdue is […]
SAM Unveils Latest Data on Marijuana Industry Donations
Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), the nation’s leading, non-partisan non-profit dedicated to opposing marijuana commercialization and holding Big Marijuana accountable, released a thoroughly renovated database with the most up-to-date information available on political contributions made by the marijuana industry to federal elected officials. The database now includes donations from K Street lobbying firms that […]
In Wake of Recent Vaping Crisis, Trump Administration Must Enact National Moratorium on THC Vape Products
Vaping of High-Potency THC Products Carries Significant Physical, Mental Health Risks for Users In response to a growing national crisis over the tragic deaths and hospitalizations of hundreds of people from lung infections associated with e-cigarette products, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) President Dr. Kevin Sabet, a former senior drug policy advisor to President Obama, […]
Big Marijuana, Big Money, Big Politics: Part One — Illinois
In the past year, the legalization of recreational and medical marijuana has dominated conversations on drug policy across the nation. At the local level, states pushing for marijuana are encouraging a federal reckoning with the legality of the drug. Pro-pot legislators have protested the lackadaisical attitude of the federal government, asserting that the states are […]
New Study: Marijuana Use Linked to Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior for PTSD Sufferers
A study published in Depression & Anxiety found marijuana use among military personnel with PTSD symptoms may lead to suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This study builds on a foundation of research signaling that marijuana use among veterans suffering from symptoms of PTSD could cause worse outcomes. Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana […]
Top Administration Officials Sound Alarm on “Mounting Body of Evidence” of Sweeping Harms of Marijuana Normalization on Pregnant Women and Youth
In the most significant event on marijuana policy during the Trump Administration, today the Department of Health and Human Services issued significant warnings regarding the physical and mental health implications of marijuana commercialization. During a press conference about marijuana broadly, government officials decried the normalization of marijuana and the harmful messages Americans are receiving on […]
New Mexico Governor’s Marijuana Working Group Features Heavy Big Marijuana Influence
(Santa Fe, NM) – On August 14th, the Governor’s Working Group on Cannabis Legalization convened for the first time. This group, established by New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, is tasked with crafting legislation to legalize marijuana in the upcoming legislative session. Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and a former […]
Studies Claiming Marijuana Legalization Reduces Opioid Deaths Should Not Be Trusted
The marijuana industry has made a list of claims finding legalization to be an unmitigated success (and why not, their profits depend on it!). One such claim rests on the idea that greater access to marijuana leads to a reduction in opioid problems. This was first presented in a 2014 study claiming a 25% reduction […]
New HHS Data Confirms Some of Our Worst Fears About Marijuana Normalization
(Alexandria, VA) – Today, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released the 2018 Annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the most comprehensive survey on drug use. According to the survey, 45,000 more teenagers are regularly using the drug, marijuana users are more likely to abuse opioids than non-users, and levels […]
New York Rejects Predatory Pot Industry in Favor of Decriminalization
New Law a Victory for Youth and Minority Communities, Avoids Big Tobacco-Style Damage (ALBANY, NY) – In response to New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo signing the state’s new marijuana decriminalization law Smart Approaches to Marijuana New York President Dr. Kevin Sabet, a former senior drug policy advisor to President Obama, issued the following statement. […]
Senator Harris and Representative Nadler Put Pot Industry Interests Over Public Health and Safety
California Senator Kamala Harris and New York Representative Jerrold Nadler introduced the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, a bill to federally legalize, commercialize, and tax the use of marijuana. In response, Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and a former senior drug policy advisor to the Obama Administration, released the […]