View this email in your browser ([link removed])
[link removed]

Dr. Kevin Sabet and SAM EVP Luke Niforatos with White House Director of National Drug Control Policy, Dr. Rahul Gupta.


** AT UN COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS, SAM URGES MEMBER-STATES AGAINST INCAUTIOUSLY LIBERALIZING THEIR DRUG LAWS
------------------------------------------------------------

SAM President and CEO Dr. Kevin Sabet and Executive Vice President Luke Niforatos recently traveled to 5 countries, held 39 meetings, and had numerous pivotal health policy discussions with hundreds of people at the United Nations 67th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, Austria, among other events.

Watch Dr. Kevin Sabet’s United Nations speech here ([link removed]) .

Multiple European health officials agreed with what we have been saying for years, that marijuana is addictive and dangerous ([link removed]) .
Read More Here ([link removed])


** SAM Speaks at the Planet Youth Annual Conference in Reykjavik, Iceland
------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Kevin Sabet also spoke at the Planet Youth ([link removed]) Annual Conference in Reykjavik, Iceland. It was marked by a notable international governmental presence discussing Planet Youth's prevention model. ([link removed])

Dr. Kevin Sabet with Jón Sigfússon, Chairman of Planet Youth.
[link removed]


** Feature Article
------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Kevin Sabet and former Obama Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske collaborated to address Vice President Harris’s recent roundtable on marijuana and criminal justice reform.
Read Article Here ([link removed])

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

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


** In the News
------------------------------------------------------------

Virginia’s Governor Youngkin vetoes retail marijuana in the state. “Cannabis is not good for Virginia,” Governor Youngkin stated. Read more here ([link removed]) .
Click Here to send Gov. Youngkin a prewritten thank you ([link removed])
[link removed]

Newsweek:

Now Is Congress' Chance to Close Its Hemp Loophole—And Save Lives ([link removed])
[link removed]

Bloomberg Law: Rescheduling Marijuana Would Be a Huge Threat to Public Health ([link removed])
[link removed]

Daily Caller: Biden Should Puff, Puff Pass on Politicized Marijuana Rescheduling ([link removed])
* CQ Roll Call: Growing teen THC use could further complicate cannabis policy ([link removed])
* CBN News: Widely Available THC Products Like Delta-8 Can Cause Physical, Mental and Spiritual Problems ([link removed])
* Fox 59: VP Harris holds marijuana reform roundtable ([link removed])
* Colorado Springs Gazette: Missing the mark on marijuana ([link removed])

More SAM News ([link removed])


** The Hill
------------------------------------------------------------

The SAM Federal Affairs team is planning for the FY25 appropriations cycle. We are optimistic about the inclusion of new provisions in the next federal spending package.

A bipartisan group of 21 Attorneys General sent a letter to Congress ([link removed]) urging them to close the Delta-8 loophole in the next Farm Bill. We hope the letter will help garner Congressional support for a ban on these intoxicants. Tell Congress to Ban Delta-8 THC in the 2024 Farm Bill here ([link removed]) . ([link removed])

US Senators Jim Risch (ID), Mitt Romney (UT), and Pete Ricketts (NE) sent a letter to DEA Administrator Anne Milgram highlighting concerns over the Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendation to reschedule marijuana citing non-compliance with US Treaty obligations. Read the letter here. ([link removed])

The House Homeland Security Committeehttps://www.dailywire.com/news/worrying-top-lawmakers-receive-classified-briefing-on-spread-of-chinese-backed-marijuana-farms-in-united-statesreceived a DEA briefing on the threat posed by Chinese organized crime-operated marijuana farms ([link removed]) in the United States. SAM has been active on the issue, having written and gotten signatures on a Congressional letter ([link removed]) on the topic. Here’s what you need to know ([link removed]) .

Congress is currently working on the SAFER Banking Act. Let Congress know that you are opposed to the SAFER Banking Act here ([link removed]) .


** State Updates
------------------------------------------------------------
* Virginia: Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoes SB448 ([link removed]) , which would have allowed the commercial sales of marijuana and high-potency THC drugs in Virginia. Virginia residents, click here to thank Governor Youngkin. ([link removed])
* Hawai’i: The Senate passed SB 3335, which would legalize and commercialize marijuana in Hawai'i. The bill is currently up for debate in the House. Click here to urge your state Representative to oppose SB 3335-SD1 in the House ([link removed]) . ([link removed])
* Pennsylvania: On March 20th, state lawmakers and coalition leaders held a press conference at the Capitol in Harrisburg to highlight the many harms of Governor Josh Shapiro’s agenda on marijuana, which is to legalize high-potency THC for retail recreational sale in Pennsylvania. You can view the video of the press conference here ([link removed]) .
* Wyoming: Wyoming banned hemp-derived THC products. Governor Mark Gordon signed legislation that banned these products on March 7. Read more here ([link removed]) .
* Florida: The legislature has passed a bill that will decrease the permitted amount of THC in hemp-derived products, which would effectively ban hemp-derived THC in the state. The bill now goes to Governor Ron DeSantis. Click here to send Governor DeSantis a message encouraging him to sign SB 1698. ([link removed])


** Grassroots
------------------------------------------------------------

Parent Action Network ([link removed]) joined the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) to host our annual training conference and advocacy day in Washington, DC. PAN invited ten parent advocates, who spent a day learning how to tell their stories and advocate effectively for good drug policies. The training was followed by a day on Capitol Hill, where parents had the opportunity to put what they learned into practice, meeting with over 25 Congressional leaders.

Read more here ([link removed])

PAN parents training and advocating in Washington, DC. Lee Stewart, Catherine Clark, Elle Constantine, Juli Shamash, Sonia Jimenez, Darryl Rodgers. Back row: Crissy Groenewegen (PAN), Jordan Davidson (SAM), Bronwen Skinner (PAN) and Perla Mendoza. Not pictured: Steve Glassman, Michelle Foye.


** Events and Trainings
------------------------------------------------------------

SAM President & CEO Dr. Kevin Sabet provides the opening keynote at the 2024 Planet Youth Annual Conference in Reykjavik, Iceland.

SAM President & CEO Dr. Kevin Sabet & SAM Executive Vice President Luke Niforatos present at the 67th Session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, Austria.
* In February, SAM’s Chief of Staff, Jaime Zerbe, delivered a presentation at the 2024 National Narcotic Officers' Associations' Coalition Conference in Washington, DC.
* In March, SAM’s Director of Community Engagement & Outreach, Will Jones III, provided the opening keynote at the Sacramento County Prevention Summit in Sacramento, CA.

[link removed]


** Schedule a SAM Training ([link removed]) 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.
Learn More Here ([link removed])


** Stat of the Month
------------------------------------------------------------

According to data from America’s Poison Centers ([link removed]) , from 2016 to 2022, marijuana edible-related poison control calls among children aged 0-12 years old increased 3,311%. This issue has worsened alongside the legalization and commercialization of marijuana, which has ushered in a for-profit industry that makes products that are increasingly attractive to minors.
Learn More Here ([link removed])
Support SAM Here ([link removed])
[link removed] [link removed] [link removed]
[link removed]

Copyright 2024 Smart Approaches to Marijuana. All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Smart Approaches to Marijuana 107 S West St. Ste. 757 Alexandria, VA 22314 USA
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences ([link removed]) or unsubscribe ([link removed])