Who Opposes Marijuana Legalization?
THE DOCTORS, ORGANIZATIONS AND VOTERS SAYING NO TO BIG MARIJUANA
Opposition to marijuana legalization is not a fringe position. It is the stated policy of the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, the position of addiction medicine and child psychiatry, the view of AAA, and the way a majority of voters have gone at the ballot box since 2022. This page lists who opposes commercial marijuana legalization, in their own words, with a link to each source.
- The AMA says cannabis is “a dangerous drug” and that recreational sale “should not be legalized.”
- The American Academy of Pediatrics “opposes legalization of marijuana because of the potential harms to children and adolescents.”
- Addiction medicine (ASAM) opposes the commercial model and wants potency limits; the APA finds no good evidence cannabis treats any psychiatric disorder.
- AAA opposes recreational legalization on traffic safety grounds.
- A national network of prevention, parent and public health groups, led by SAM, works against commercialization in every state.
- Voters have rejected seven of ten recreational ballot measures since 2022, and most Americans now say marijuana is bad for society.
Medical and safety organizations that oppose marijuana legalization
These are the positions of the country’s largest physician, pediatric, psychiatric and addiction medicine bodies. None of them is an advocacy group; each reached its position by reviewing the science.
“cannabis is a dangerous drug and as such is a serious public health concern”
AMA policy H-95.924 also states that the sale of cannabis for recreational adult use “should not be legalized.” The AMA House of Delegates reaffirmed the language in 2020.
AMA Council on Science and Public Health, Report 4, November 2020 (PDF) · AMA PolicyFinder H-95.924
“The AAP opposes legalization of marijuana because of the potential harms to children and adolescents.”
The Academy’s policy statement also opposes “medical marijuana” outside the FDA process, while strongly supporting decriminalization for minors and young adults.
“There is insufficient evidence that cannabis is an effective treatment for any psychiatric disorder.”
The APA’s 2025 position statement finds “a strong association of cannabis exposure and use with the onset and exacerbation of psychiatric disorders,” especially among children, adolescents and young adults, and says cannabis products should have the same oversight as other FDA-approved drugs.
“should use models other than commercialization”
ASAM’s cannabis policy statement says jurisdictions that legalize should avoid the commercial model, limit potency because of its link to cannabis-induced psychosis, keep products away from anyone under 21 and regulate within a strong public health framework.
ASAM Public Policy Statement on Cannabis, adopted October 2020
AACAP’s policy statement warns that adult legalization may be associated with lower adolescent perception of risk and higher youth use, and calls for careful consideration of the downstream effects on minors before policy changes.
AACAP updated policy statement on marijuana legalization, October 2017
“We caution the public against smoking marijuana because of the risk of damage to the lungs.”
The Lung Association says it is “concerned about the health impacts of marijuana use, especially on lung health,” and strongly cautions the public against smoking marijuana as well as tobacco.
“AAA opposes measures to legalize the recreational use of marijuana because of the negative traffic safety implications”
AAA’s own research found the share of drivers in fatal Washington crashes who tested positive for THC roughly doubled after the state legalized, from about 9 percent to about 18 percent.
AAA, Fatal Crashes Involving Marijuana Climb After Legalization
Organizations working against marijuana commercialization
Alongside the medical bodies, a national network of nonprofits, parents and community coalitions works on the ground in every state. These are the groups to contact if you want to get involved.
The national organization founded by former Rep. Patrick Kennedy and Dr. Kevin Sabet. Bipartisan, science-first, and the leading voice against the commercialization of marijuana: federal and state policy, research, trainings and community coalitions.
SAM’s sister organization, a nonpartisan think and action tank for prevention, treatment and recovery across all drugs, including fentanyl, kratom, 7-OH, psychedelics and marijuana.
A SAM program that trains families hurt by high-potency marijuana to tell their stories, meet legislators and change the law. Many PAN parents lost a child to marijuana-induced psychosis.
Founded by Laura Stack after her son Johnny died by suicide at 19 following marijuana-induced psychosis. Educates teens, parents and communities about the risks of high-THC products to the developing brain.
An alliance of organizations and individuals, many of them families, that educates about the dangers of marijuana and the expansion of drug culture.
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, the leading drug prevention organization, representing more than 5,000 community coalitions. SAM’s partner on the annual Good Drug Policy Summit.
A drug prevention and policy organization based in St. Petersburg, Florida, working on education and strategies that curb drug use and support lasting recovery.
SAM also works with state and local affiliates and coalitions across the country. Contact us to find the group nearest you.
Voters are opposing marijuana legalization at the ballot box
of Americans say marijuana has a negative effect on society, and 51 percent say it is bad for most people who use it. In 2022 the public was evenly split on society and more likely to say the effect on users was positive. Gallup calls this a worsening of views.
Gallup, Americans’ Views of Marijuana Effects Worsen, August 2024
recreational legalization ballot measures have failed since 2022: Arkansas, North Dakota and South Dakota in 2022, Oklahoma in 2023, and Florida, North Dakota and South Dakota in 2024.
of Colorado jurisdictions ban recreational and medical marijuana sales, and 68 percent of California localities have opted out of marijuana stores. Even in the first legal states, most communities said no.
What opponents of legalization actually support
Opposing Big Marijuana is not the same as supporting arrests. SAM’s approach, shared by most of the groups above, is a middle road between incarceration and commercialization.
No one should go to jail or carry a lifelong record for possessing a small amount of marijuana. SAM supports expungement and treatment instead of incarceration, and the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly supports decriminalization.
Research cannabis-based medicines through clinical trials and dispense them from pharmacies, the way every other drug is handled. That is the AMA’s and APA’s position too.
Limit THC potency, ban advertising that reaches kids, require childproof packaging and fund real-time data on emergency visits, crashes and treatment demand.
Fund evidence-based school and community prevention, and expand treatment for cannabis use disorder, which now affects more than 19 million Americans.
The arguments against legalization, with the evidence · SAM’s policy positions · Arguments against legalizing other drugs (FDPS)
Questions about who opposes marijuana legalization
Is opposing marijuana legalization the same as supporting prohibition?
No. SAM and most of the groups on this page support decriminalization of possession, treatment instead of jail, record expungement and FDA research into cannabis-based medicines. What they oppose is a commercial industry selling high-potency THC products with Big Tobacco’s playbook. The American Academy of Pediatrics, for example, opposes legalization and strongly supports decriminalization in the same policy statement.
Which medical organizations oppose marijuana legalization?
The American Medical Association says cannabis is a dangerous drug and that the sale of cannabis for recreational use should not be legalized. The American Academy of Pediatrics opposes legalization because of the potential harms to children and adolescents. The American Society of Addiction Medicine opposes the commercial model and calls for potency limits. The American Psychiatric Association finds insufficient evidence that cannabis treats any psychiatric disorder and a strong association with the onset of psychiatric disorders. AAA opposes recreational legalization because of traffic safety.
Do most Americans support marijuana legalization?
Polls that ask a yes-or-no question about legalization still find majority support. But in 2024 Gallup found that slim majorities of Americans now say marijuana has a negative effect on society (54 percent) and on most people who use it (51 percent), a reversal from 2022. And at the ballot box, seven of the ten recreational legalization measures since 2022 have failed, including in Florida, Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota and Arkansas.
Who funds the opposition to marijuana legalization?
SAM’s funding comes from individuals and families, family foundations and speaking fees, and SAM receives no funding from the alcohol, tobacco, opioid or prison industries. The legalization side, by contrast, is funded largely by the marijuana industry itself, along with tobacco and alcohol companies that have bought into it. See who funds marijuana legalization and SAM’s funding.
How can I get involved?
Join SAM’s email list, bring a SAM training to your community, join the Parent Action Network if your family has been affected, or use the Advocacy Center to contact your lawmakers.
