PRESS STATEMENT
Today, SAM President Kevin Sabet made the following statement on HR 3561, introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer:
“While we disagree with Rep. Blumenauer’s attempts to legalize marijuana and legitimize a new industry around it, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) applauds and supports his proposed federal House bill (H.R. 3561) that would exclude certain marijuana-related offenses from the list of drug-related crimes that result in barring students from receiving federal funding for educational loans, grants, work assistance and other public support. We must encourage former users to get an education and participate in the legal economy – not discourage them.
“This bill is an example of how marijuana legalization — which stands to trigger big, national problems for public health and safety — is not necessary to reform problematic laws regarding drug use and abuse.
“As always, due diligence must be exercised to ensure that our laws do not encourage problematic drug use. Young people should get treatment for their marijuana use disorders. SAM sees this legislation as a step in the right direction, however, and a place of common ground in the area of drug policy reform.
“SAM encourages Americans who understand that legalization is not a solution for addressing the United States’ drug-related problems contact their lawmakers to support this proposal, and explain to them the reasons behind their support.”