Dear John,

Yesterday, I was in Washington testifying before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs in opposition to the SAFE Banking Act. Click here to watch my entire opening statement.

SAM CEO and President, Dr. Kevin Sabet delivers testimony before the Senate Banking Committee on May 11

We've shared with you many times why the SAFE Banking Act is misguided and how it is an industry-crafted piece of legislation that will enable billions of dollars to be invested into the marijuana industry. If passed, this bill will bring our nation one step closer to the full nationwide legalization and commercialization of marijuana. 

I'm going to be frank, this bill is the greatest threat we are facing on the federal level. Not only is the marijuana industry pushing hard for this bill, the banking industry is pushing for it as well. This bill has a lot of money behind it and with your help, SAM is leading the charge in opposition.

Please consider donating today to help us continue to stand up to banks and the addiction-for-profit marijuana industry.

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman (D) exchanges with Dr. Sabet on marijuana issues

In yesterday's hearing I was the only witness opposed to the passage of the SAFE Banking Act, and there were some heated debates.

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman (D), a known supporter of legalization throughout his career as a judge and now during his time in the Senate, asked about deaths for tobacco and alcohol, compared to THC. As I shared with Senator Fetterman, cannabinoids affect the brain and body differently than other drugs or even alcohol; no one dies of a tobacco overdose, but that doesn't make tobacco safe, either.

Click here to see the entire exchange

Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member, Senator Tim Scott (R-SC)

Ranking member Tim Scott (R-SC), asked me a question about high-potency THC and the risks of bad actors taking advantage of legalization to grow the illicit market:

"Now we've learned how to genetically breed marijuana to increase THC to levels we couldn't have imagined 10-15 years ago. The industry now claims to sell products that are 99.99% THC potent, these are products that did not exist before; this legal industry has innovated to create these kid-friendly products that never existed before legalization."

Click here to see the entire exchange

Dr. Sabet and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) before the hearing

Although we were outnumbered 5 to 1 yesterday, I am grateful to both Ranking Member Scott and to Chairman Brown for giving us the opportunity to share our concerns around this legalization and around marijuana legalization in general.

Your support gives us the opportunity to have relationships with these offices and gives us the resources we need to speak truth to power on the dangers of marijuana legalization.

Please consider donating to our work today.

As always, thank you for all you do to support us in our fight for sensible, evidence-based drug policies. 

Dr. Kevin Sabet

CEO and President

Smart Approaches to Marijuana