Save the Date!

In February 2013 at just a month old, SAM hosted an evening event at CADCA's National Leadership Forum that featured Patrick Kennedy, David Frum, Kevin Sabet, and every sitting ONDCP and SAMHSA principal. It was a magical night with 1000 people crammed in a room fit for about 300. Our movement was ignited, and married forever to the cause of prevention.

Now, 11 years later, we are proud to be once again partnering with CADCA. Our 2024 SAM Good Drug Policy Summit will be held in conjunction with CADCA’s 34th Annual National Leadership Forum at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. 

The Summit will consist of two days’ worth of drug policy presentations beginning in the afternoon on Thursday, February 1 and concluding on Friday, February 2. CADCA Leadership Forum attendees will have the option to ADD ON the SAM Summit to their current registration. Those who are not attending the CADCA Forum will have the option to register only for the SAM Good Drug Policy Summit. FULL REGISTRATION DETAILS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON.

We will bring together powerful voices in drug policy from across the field, such as prevention, treatment, recovery, as well as law enforcement experts to amplify our collective work to scale up the work of scientists and practitioners. We've invited current and former staff who served Presidential administrations as well as Members of Congress.

This is the perfect option for groups associated with non-profit organizations, corporations, healthcare, clinicians, social workers, counselors, schools, law enforcement and local community groups around the country who want to educate their communities and employees on all issues surrounding drugs and drug policy. We go beyond slogans and clichés to give you a data-driven and tested approach to understanding these critical issues.

Expect to learn more about what the current research says about the negative effects of marijuana normalization on public health and safety and the drug policy landscape as a whole.

Call for Presentations

We're looking for dynamic presenters for our annual conference. Ever want to give a TED talk on some aspect of drug policy? If you say yes, then read on!

The 2024 SAM Good Drug Policy Summit is the premier gathering for drug policy advocates around the country. Submissions will be reviewed by members of the SAM & FDPS team and Board of Directors. 

Please be prepared to submit the following information that would fit into a 10-minute educational session:

• Session title
• Session abstract (max 250 words)
• Three (3) session objectives
• Identification of topic area
• Name & bio of presenter(s) 

We're seeking proposals that focus on the following topics:

• Advocacy
• Prevention strategies
• Treatment and recovery
• Social justice
• Link between marijuana and opioids/other drugs.
• Workplace and employers, and impact on employee productivity
• Impacts on youth and young adults 

Presentation Terms and Conditions:

• Presenters will be required to complete a Conflict of Interest Reporting Form as part of their speaker agreement.
• Presenters agree to waive any honorariums/travel & hotel accommodations.
• Presenter will receive one (1) complimentary conference registration.

PLEASE NOTE: All submissions are to be completed by Friday, December 1, 2023. 

Submit proposals to Brendan Fairfield: [email protected]

Sponsorship Opportunities

If your organization would like to sponsor the conference, please contact Brendan Fairfield at [email protected] for more information.

Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) is an alliance of organizations and individuals dedicated to a health-first approach to marijuana policy. We are professionals working in mental health and public health. We are bipartisan. We are medical doctors, lawmakers, treatment providers, preventionists, teachers, law enforcement officers and others who seek a middle road between incarceration and legalization. Our commonsense, third-way approach to marijuana policy is based on reputable science and sound principles of public health and safety.

The Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions is a national drug policy think/action tank whose vision is a world in which children and families thrive, substance use is prevented, and there is rapid access to quality treatment. From prevention and recovery to smart law enforcement and better international cooperation, we are working to change the face of drug policy. Too many people are losing their lives to addiction. It is time for big change.