Mission Update

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

Dr. Kevin Sabet, Vancouver Mayor, other BC leaders address mental health and addiction crisis

The Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS) Canada affiliate, the
Policy Roundtable On Substance Prevention, Education, and Recovery ([link removed]) , hosted a press conference in Vancouver. FDPS CEO & President Dr. Kevin Sabet, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, First Nations leaders, public health experts, and law enforcement officials joined forces to address the urgent mental health and addiction crisis affecting Vancouver and municipalities throughout the province.
[link removed]

SAM President and CEO, Dr. Kevin Sabet, joins Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, First Nations leaders, public health experts, and law enforcement officials to address British Columbia’s mental health and addiction crisis.
[link removed]

Read more about this historic event here ([link removed]) and here ([link removed])


** The Gazette: Safe supply only will deepen Denver’s drug crisis ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------

SAM Executive Vice President, Luke Niforatos warns that Denver must learn from Canada’s radical unproven drug polices.
Read the article here ([link removed])


** The Albuquerque Journal: El Mayo’s arrest should be the tip of the counter-drug iceberg ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------

SAM President, Dr. Kevin Sabet, spells out what must come next for counter-drug terrorism after the arrest of El Mayo.
Read the article here ([link removed])


** SAM webinar recording, Profiles in Mental Health Courage ([link removed]) , now available
------------------------------------------------------------


**
------------------------------------------------------------

Click here ([link removed]) to watch the SAM September webinar with former Congressman, Patrick J. Kennedy. Dr. Kevin Sabet and Luke Niforatos take a deeper dive into Congressman Kennedy’s new book and
[link removed]

learn more about his initiatives to unite the community of mental health and substance use.

Profiles in Mental Health Courage ([link removed]) portrays the dramatic journeys of a diverse group of Americans who have struggled with their mental health. This book offers deeply compelling stories about the bravery and resilience of those living with a variety of mental illnesses and addictions.


** Registration is open for the 2025 SAM Good Drug Policy Summit! ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
[link removed]

Register today for 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, Maryland. The 2025 Summit will take place on February 6-7.

Call for Presentations ([link removed]) : 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 2025 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.

For more information, contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=&body=)


** In the News
------------------------------------------------------------
[link removed]

AP: A decision on a major policy shift on marijuana won’t come until after the presidential election ([link removed])
[link removed]

WSBTV: Atlanta company pulls free cannabis products promotion after Channel 2 Action News investigation ([link removed])
[link removed]

Daily Caller (Op-Ed): Pro-Pot Policies Won’t Win Trump This Election ([link removed])
* Arkansas Times: Parking app used by Little Rock, Fayetteville removes cannabis rewards ([link removed])
* The Washington Post: Trump signals support for Biden plan to loosen marijuana restrictions ([link removed])
* DC Examiner: Policy organization slams Trump comments over marijuana legalization ([link removed])


** Legislative Update
------------------------------------------------------------
[link removed]

After a long August recess, Congress is finally back in session! While there is almost no chance of marijuana-related legislation passing before the election, we have still been hard at work.

This month, we’ve grown our coalition partners, engaged members on a strategy to ban Delta-8 THC, and released our first-ever Federal Policy Report ([link removed]) ! The report details all of SAM’s accomplishments on Capitol Hill over the past year and gives an inside perspective into how we are fighting Big Marijuana every day!

Click here to download SAM’s Federal Policy Report ([link removed])


** State Updates
------------------------------------------------------------

Arkansas: The National Public Health Organization (NPHO) partners with Arkansans to protect kids against marijuana addiction. Learn more here ([link removed]) . The legal challenge to the petition should be filed soon.

Florida: SAM has partnered with Drug Free America Foundation to help educate for science-based drug policies in Florida. For more information on getting involved in Florida, click here ([link removed]) .

North Carolina: The state General Assembly has adjourned with no decision on medical marijuana legalization, killing the bill for this session, but we anticipate it will be a topic for next session. If you live in North Carolina and would like to get involved, click here ([link removed]) .


North Dakota: The North Dakota Marijuana Legalization Initiative may appear on the ballot ([link removed](2024)) this November. The initiative would legalize recreational marijuana, and individuals could possess up to 1 oz of marijuana, 4 g of concentrate, 300 mg of edibles, and be allowed to grow up to six plants per household.

Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania legislators filed PA House Bill 2500 in a bipartisan effort to legalize recreational marijuana. If passed, the bill would allow adults aged 21 and older to possess and buy up to 30 grams of marijuana, medical users to grow up to 5 plants at home, and a “clean slate” for those with marijuana-related convictions, as well as regulatory, tax, licensing, and labeling provisions. Click here to learn more ([link removed]) .


South Dakota: Initiated Measure 29 ([link removed](2024)) to legalize marijuana is on the ballot for this November. If passed, it will legalize the recreational use, possession, and distribution of marijuana for 21 and over. It would provide for possession limits of 2 ounces of marijuana, 16 grams of concentrated cannabis, 1,600 mg of THC contained in cannabis products, and allow for up to 12 plants per household.

Washington, DC: SAM has filed an amicus brief to ensure that there are no marijuana stores 1,000 feet from schools.


** Grassroots
------------------------------------------------------------
[link removed]

Parent Action Network ([link removed]) continues to grow as we welcome more and more parents into the network. Because of our continued mission to train and more importantly, honor these families, PAN is proud to announce the launch of their podcast, Fortitude ([link removed]) , dedicated to amplifying the voices of parents whose lives have been devastated by the harmful effects of marijuana. Each episode features personal interviews with parents sharing their heart-wrenching stories of loss, addiction, and the impact on their families. 


PAN’s director, Crissy Groenewegen will travel to Arizona to present at the Power of Hope Conference ([link removed]) on October 5th. The conference brings together people from various communities with a personal and/or professional connection to substance use disorder, highlighting the importance of the restoration of loved ones and the families affected by this disease by engaging the spectrum of recovery and being change agents around this issue.


** Events and Trainings
------------------------------------------------------------
[link removed]

SAM is proud to partner with the 3rd Annual National Emerging Drug Trends Conference ([link removed]) held this year in Dallas, Texas at the Hyatt Regency Dallas Reunion Tower on October 18 and 19, 2024.

The conference is an exclusive drug education and enforcement conference highlighting an array of superior speakers with expert knowledge. Our very own SAM Government Affairs Manager, Jordan Davidson, will be presenting An Invisible Addiction: Fighting the Stigma Around Cannabis Use Disorder ([link removed]) on Friday at 1:15 PM.

Please visit their website ([link removed]) for additional registration information.
[link removed]

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 that 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
------------------------------------------------------------
[link removed]

New studies from JAMA ([link removed]) and Atmospheric Environment: X ([link removed]) reveal the physical risks of daily or frequent marijuana use, and the health risks of secondhand marijuana smoke, meaning the risks are not isolated to the user.

Learn more here ([link removed]) .


** Donate ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------

Our mission is funded through the generosity of our supporters. We hope that you will join us in our fight against big marijuana and make a gift today ([link removed]) .

Should you choose to give at the leadership level-by making a donation of $1,000 or more ([link removed]) -you will be invited to attend our next Quarterly Leadership Update. This webinar, taking place on October 10, will give our community of support an all-access look at our work, our victories, and what is still to come.

For more information on how to join our Quarterly Leadership Updates please email [email protected].
Click Here to Donate to SAM ([link removed])
[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])