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SAM, along with sister organization Foundation for Drug Policy solutions (FDPS), ([link removed]) has launched several exciting new projects:
* The Drug Report serves as an aggregate to all the biggest stories in drug policy and, in addition to the site, features a regular newsletter delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up here to stay up to date ([link removed]) on the latest news!
* The launch of the TDR (The Drug Report) Podcast ([link removed]) . Expert drug policy news and analysis brought to you by the leading drug policy organizations, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and The Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS). New episodes drop weekly so subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

* The Friday Fact highlights one new fact on drug policy and is delivered to your inbox every Friday morning.

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** Save the date:
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The 2025 SAM Good Drug Policy Summit ([link removed]) once again taking place in conjunction with CADCA’s National Leadership Forum at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. Registration

The 2025 Summit will take place on February 6-7. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .


** SAM in the News
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National Review: China’s Growing Illegal Pot Industry in the U.S. Should Spark Action ([link removed])
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Fox & Friends: Expert sounds alarm on danger of hemp products: ‘A matter of life and death’ ([link removed])
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Wall Street Journal: For Marijuana Users, Even Legalization Doesn’t Guarantee Safety ([link removed])
* Wall Street Journal: The Cannabis That People Are Using for Anxiety Is Probably Making It Worse ([link removed])
* POLITICO: Weed wins galvanize Capitol Hill’s anti-cannabis club ([link removed])
* Newsweek: Education Should Focus on Stopping Drug Use Before It Starts ([link removed])
* The Washington Times: Debunking the myth: Every dollar of marijuana tax revenue is associated with $4.50 in costs ([link removed])

MORE NEWS FROM SAM ([link removed])


** SAM Rescheduling Legal Defense Fund
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Last year, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommended that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. SAM is closely following this issue and we are taking steps to combat any rescheduling effort, including potential legal challenges.

In order to continue to advocate for marijuana’s Schedule I status, we have launched the new SAM Rescheduling Legal Defense Fund. Click here to access this new fund and help us keep marijuana from being rescheduled. ([link removed]) ([link removed])


** SAM on the Hill
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Pushing for a ban onDelta-8 ([link removed]) in the upcoming Farm Bill remains SAM’s top priority in DC. Stay tuned for status updates on the progress of the Farm Bill and opportunities to advocate.

SAM Government Affairs Manager Jordan Davidson was the keynote speaker at a press conference in Honolulu, HI, organized to oppose legalization in the state. He was joined by Honolulu County Prosecutor Steve Alm, state legislators, county sheriffs, and former Governor Linda Lingle, who spoke on policy publicly for the first time in fourteen years at the event.


** SAM in the States
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* Florida: SAM is actively involved in supporting a bill to ban hemp products, HB 1613. This bill is currently awaiting movement in the Senate. If you are a Florida resident, please contact your legislator here ([link removed]) in support of HB 1613.
* Georgia: SAM joined a letter authored by Georgians for Responsible Marijuana Policy that was sent to politicians across Georgia on issues including banning Delta-8 and other synthetic marijuana products and opposing the establishment of a medical marijuana program.
* Hawaii: SAM is engaged with and providing tactical support to a Hawaiian coalition working to defeat marijuana commercialization. If you are a Hawaiian resident, please contact your senators and state representatives here ([link removed]) .
* Illinois: SAM is actively working to defeat the “Cure Act” HB0001 ([link removed]) , which would legalize the medical use of psychedelics. If you are a resident of Illinois, please contact your legislators and ask them to oppose the Cure Act.
* New Hampshire: SAM and SAM New Hampshire are working together to defeat HB 1633 ([link removed]) that would commercialize marijuana in the Granite state. If you are a NH resident, please tell your representative to vote no on HB 1633 here ([link removed]) .
* South Carolina: SAM provided tactical support to a small coalition to defeat
S 685 ([link removed]) a medical marijuana bill. This bill has passed the Senate but has an uncertain future in the House. If you are a South Carolina resident, please contact your state representative and tell them to vote no on S 685.
* Pennsylvania: SAM is actively engaged in defeating marijuana commercialization in PA. The Health Committee is currently working on the legalization bill that is expected to be voted on this session. If you are a Pennsylvania resident, pleasehttps://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/contact your state senator and tell them to oppose any bill that commercializes marijuana.
* Washington: SAM provided testimony on HB 2320 ([link removed]) , an act to reduce the public health harms associated with high THC cannabis products. This bill has passed the house and is now awaiting action in the Senate. If you are a Washington resident, please contact your state senator and tell them to vote yes on HB 2320.

* Wisconsin: This session, SAM helped defeat a medical marijuana bill and we look forward to working with Wisconsinites to defeat similar legislation in the future.


** Grassroots: Parent Action Network
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Parent Action Network ([link removed]) has been busy building our network of parents and families who have been negatively impacted by marijuana legalization. PAN Director Crissy Groenewegen had the opportunity to speak at the SAM Summit and has been traveling to conferences around the country sharing PAN’s work. We continue to educate and train parent advocates to effectively tell their stories. To further this goal, PAN has partnered with NDASA and is gearing up for our first Education and Training Conference and Day of Advocacy ([link removed]) which will be held March 4 and 5 in Washington D.C.


** Events and Trainings
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Jordan Davidson, SAM Government Affairs Manager, delivers remarks against marijuana commercialization in Honolulu, HI.

Dr. Kevin A. Sabet, SAM President & CEO, delivers the opening keynote at the 2024 SAM Good Drug Policy Summit.

Schedule a SAM Training today and learn what to say and how to say it.


In-person and virtual trainings are now available for all age 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 marijuana. To learn more about our speakers, please visit the training page on our website. ([link removed])

To schedule a training, please contact us at: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .


** Stat of the Month
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2021-2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health ([link removed]) : Model-Based Prevalence Estimates (50 States and the District of Columbia)

For measure of past-year marijuana use among those between the ages of 12 and 17, legal states (those that legalized before the end of 2022, plus DC) had an average of 16.25%, compared to an average of 13.55% in non-legal states.

For past-month marijuana use among that same age group, legal states had an average of 5.68%, compared to 4.29% in non-legal states.
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** Resource of the Month
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** New Delta-8 THC Webpage
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**
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The Farm Bill loophole has allowed the proliferation of Delta-8 (and similar) products to be widely available legally at gas stations, smoke shops, and other retail stores and remains a primary focus as the bill is reviewed in 2024. SAM has added a new page on this topic with FAQ’s, resources, and warnings on

Delta-8 and other harmful hemp derived products.Click here to access the page and learn more. ([link removed])

In case you missed it: read SAM’s analysis of the HHS’s rescheduling review ([link removed]) process, which includes a robust analysis of the numerous flaws in HHS’ recommendations for rescheduling marijuana.
Click Here to Support SAM’s Work ([link removed])
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