Latest News

Policy Solutions Lab and SAM are hiring

Job Title: Internship Start: Rolling Length and Commitment: Negotiable Compensation: Negotiable About Policy Solutions Lab (PSL): PSL is a public policy consulting firm which focuses primarily on illicit drug policy in the United States. PSL’s clients include nation-wide anti-drug coalitions, United Nations agencies and other international organizations, and government agencies. Project SAM (www.learnaboutsam.org) is a nonpartisan […]

Report: Marijuana’s impact on Colorado

The Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area has been dedicated to tracking the impact of marijuana legalization in Colorado — and the findings aren’t pretty.

Colorado SAM, doctors call on Denver Post and Leafly to end unfounded medical claims

“Green Crack” marijuana can treat depression, PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, and ADHD according to The Denver Post’s marijuana website, The Cannabist. Green Crack marijuana is just one of more than 90 marijuana strains listed with medical recommendations for treating mental health issues that are provided by Lealfy, the same company that became the New York Times’ […]

SAM calls for White House, DOJ, SAMHSA, FDA to stop ignoring marijuana issue; host summit with public health researchers

SAM Co-Founder Patrick Kennedy asks President Barack Obama to round up federal agencies and shine spotlight on mental, physical harms of marijuana.

Avoid ‘Charlotte’s Web’ to treat epilepsy

Dr. Christian Thurstone, a member of SAM’s board of directors, gives several reasons why children with severe epilepsy should avoid the CBD oil product known as “Charlotte’s Web.”

SAM NY opposes medical marijuna compromise, commends governor holding firm against smoking

ALBANY–  The New York Affiliate of Project SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana), a nonpartisan alliance of lawmakers, scientists and other concerned citizens, coordinated by Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds of the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD) and chaired nationally by former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, expressed concern today that the New York State […]

SAM applauds DOJ, U.S. Sentencing Commission call to reduce sentences for some drug offenders

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Justice Department’s support for a reduction in sentences for nonviolent drug offenders is a step in the right direction — and one that shows marijuana legalization is unnecessary to reform any problematic drug laws, says Smart Approaches to Marijuana (Project SAM), a national, volunteer nonprofit co-founded by former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy.

‘I became convinced that I had died’

New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd ate a marijuana edible in Denver, and we hope you’ll read her full report about the experience.

SAM applauds CBD agreement between State of N.Y., maker of medicine for children with severe epilepsy

ALBANY, N.Y. — The New York affiliate of Project SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana) and a nonpartisan alliance of lawmakers, scientists and other concerned citizens coordinated by Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds of the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD) and chaired nationally by former U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy, applaud today the State […]

After 5 months of sales, Colorado sees downside of legal highs

DENVER — Five months after Colorado became the first state to allow recreational marijuana sales, the battle over legalization is still raging. Law enforcement officers in Colorado and neighboring states, emergency room doctors and legalization opponents increasingly are highlighting a series of recent problems as cautionary lessons for other states flirting with loosening marijuana laws.

SAM applauds unprecedented agreement between Georgia, manufacturer of CBD medicine

The State of Georgia and GW Pharmaceuticals have forged an unprecedented agreement that is a smart, compassionate way to ensure children with intractable epilepsy receive a new medication based on a non-intoxicating component of cannabis.