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Dear Friend,

Today is Giving Tuesday, and thanks to a very generous donor your donation will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $1,000,000.

With Thanksgiving in the rear view mirror, I cannot help but to reflect on what I am thankful for: all of you, our valuable supporters. Today, Giving Tuesday, is a reminder of all of you who have prioritized our efforts. And to say thank you back to all of you who are willing to step up, one of our donors has offered to match each and every gift we receive today up to $1 million. If that is not a reason to give thanks, I don’t know what is.  

If you give today and move our work forward, you are not simply funding the nation’s seminal voice on marijuana policy, you are making a statement about protecting people from those who ignore the dangers of marijuana and other drugs to advance their own agendas. Here are some quick stats showing what we’ve done in 2023 alone:

When you make a gift to SAM, you enable us to get this information into the hands of lawmakers, public servants, first responders and even corporations to help them make informed decisions that could reshape the landscape of our nation’s drug policy.

Here’s an advanced look at an yet-to-be edited talk I gave in front of Silicon Valley executives and start-ups just last month.

In the last 12 months, we have defeated marijuana legalization efforts in six states and will continue to work across the country—constantly juggling multiple events, writing op-eds, and conducting other educational activities.

In the past five weeks, our team has achieved remarkable successes. We're the primary force opposing the SAFE(R) Banking Act, which could inject billions into the marijuana market. Notably, The Wall Street Journal article profiled our Government Affairs Lead, Jordan, and The American Spectator featured a piece by our Executive VP, Luke. Even Politico, not usually aligned with our cause, has covered our wins. We've also launched The Drug Report, aiming to be a top news source in our field, and organized a letter from former DEA Administrators and ONDCP Directors opposing marijuana rescheduling. Plus, we've engaged with the NBA, NCAA, and the World Anti-Doping Agency to keep marijuana out of sports.

Our organization is small and so are our resources, yet we continue to stand against giants and walk away with victories. We represent the interests of public health and as such we never take funding from the pharmaceutical industry, tobacco or alcohol companies, or any special interest groups. 

We are primarily funded by people like you who want their voices heard. We are your voice in Washington, in state legislatures, and around the world.

Please join our fight and help our efforts by making a tax-deductible gift today. 

Know that I am grateful for every single person who gives. Together, we can take down Big Marijuana and end their misery-for-profit schemes. 

Now is your moment. Give today.

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.