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Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy Sends Open Letter to Lawmakers Considering Marijuana Legalization
Today, former United States Congressman and co-founder of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), Patrick Kennedy, released an open letter to lawmakers in states currently considering legislation to “legalize” the use of marijuana and facilitate its commercialization. Specifically, the letters are being sent to lawmakers in New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Illinois, and […]
BREAKING: New Study Highlights Massive Increase in Workplace Marijuana Positivity Rates in “Legal” States
Image Credit: Urine Drug Test HQ (Alexandria, VA) – Today, an analysis of 10 million drug samples by Quest Diagnostics found that states that have “legalized” the use of marijuana have seen massive increases in workforce positivity since legalization. Oregon has seen a 63% increase, Nevada has seen a 55% increase, and Colorado has seen […]
BREAKING: New Study Shows Marijuana Use in Conjunction with Opioids Offers More Harms; No Benefit
Today, a new study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine shows that sufferers from chronic pain who use marijuana in conjunction with prescription opioids demonstrated higher instances of mental health issues and further substance abuse problems than those who used opioids alone. According to the study, instances of depression and anxiety as well as opioid […]
Reckless Marijuana Legalization Bill, STATES Act, Reintroduced Today
Today, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, Colorado Senator Cory Gardner, Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer, and Ohio Representative Dave Joyce introduced a reckless bill that would legalize unlimited potency concentrates and kid-friendly pot gummies at the federal level. In response, Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action president Dr. Kevin Sabet released the following statement: “Make no mistake, this […]
NEW STUDY: Marijuana Use During Pregnancy Increases Risk of Psychosis
A new study published yesterday in the journal JAMA Psychiatry found that marijuana use during pregnancy can increase the risk in unborn children developing psychosis later in life. This revelation poses yet another reason the reported recent 75% increase in marijuana use during pregnancy is so concerning. “While the pot industry has been caught recommending […]
House Financial Services Committee Approves Marijuana Banking Bill
Today, the House Financial Services Committee approved H.R. 1595, the SAFE Act, a bill that would grant the marijuana industry access to the federal banking system and open the doors to Wall Street investment. SAM president Dr. Kevin Sabet released the following statement in response: “This bill, the ‘UN-SAFE Act,’ fails to do the very […]
BREAKING: New Study Highlights Skyrocketing ER Visits in Colorado
A new study released yesterday in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that the rise in marijuana use in Colorado since the state legalized the drug has led to increased emergency room visits. The study found that 9,973 marijuana-related emergency room visits occurred from 2012-2016, more than triple the number that occurred prior to legalization. […]
Groundbreaking New UK Study Confirms Link Between Daily, High Potency Marijuana Use and Psychosis
Today, a landmark study published in the prestigious Lancet Psychiatry Journal finds that daily use of high potency marijuana is linked to greater rates of psychosis in Europe. According to the study, an estimated five in ten new cases of psychosis in Amsterdam and three in ten new cases in London are linked with high […]
We Won the Fight in Minnesota
Yesterday, a Minnesota Senate Committee overwhelmingly voted down a bill that would have legalized the commercial sale of marijuana in the state by a vote of 6-3. As the Senate now appears unwilling to address any further consideration of legalization, this means the effort to expand Big Marijuana in the state this year is dead. […]
UN International Narcotics Control Board Slams Marijuana Legalization Efforts
Today, the United Nations quasi-judicial drug policy body, the International Narcotics Control Board, released a scathing report chiding countries who have legalized marijuana and outlining the problems marijuana poses to the health and well-being of youth worldwide. “This report is a bombshell,” said Kevin Sabet. “It is significant that the UN is calling out individual […]
Governor Cuomo and NYC Mayor de Blasio Proposal to Use Marijuana Revenues to Fund Transportation is Misguided
“The proposal being put forth by Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio cannot be taken seriously. State after state that legalized marijuana promised they would be awash in tax dollars — and they have all been sorely disappointed. “In Colorado, they said legalization would bring in $118 million in its first year, only $67 million […]
New Poll Finds 68% of Americans Favor Marijuana Policies Other Than Legalization
Voters less likely to support presidential candidates who take marijuana industry money; also less likely to support legalization when aware of Big Tobacco involvement (Alexandria, VA) – According to a new national poll, 68% of registered voters do not support legalizing the recreational use of marijuana when given more than a binary choice of options. […]