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** Newsweek: ‘Making America Healthy Again’ Must Start with Better Drug Policy ([link removed])
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As we step into 2025 and the challenges of a new administration, one thing is very clear: the Trump-Vance Administration must prioritize public health and safety by working to “undo legalization’s harmful consequences.” It’s time to hold the marijuana industry accountable and address important concerns, including the prevalence of addiction, the continued harms of secondhand smoke, and the lack of transparency in the “medical” marijuana arena. Further, we must regulate so-called “pot doctors,” stop illegal marijuana grows, and end the ploy to reschedule marijuana.

SAM President & CEO, Dr. Kevin A. Sabet, calls for a trend toward science-based, health-first drug policy here ([link removed]) .
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Read the Article Here ([link removed])

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** RFK Jr.'s Influence on Drug Policy: What to Expect From Trump's New Administration ([link removed])
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SAM Executive Vice President, Luke Niforatos, joins Erin DeLullo on The Poisoning ([link removed]) to discuss what we have to look forward to with 2025 drug policy decisions.
Watch Podcast Here ([link removed])


** In the News
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The Buffalo News (Op-Ed): Let's not prop up lie on 'Big Pot' ([link removed])
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The New York Times: Kennedy’s Plan for the Drug Crisis: A Network of ‘Healing Farms’ ([link removed])

Fox 5 NY: Street Soldiers: What’s the impact of legal marijuana, ([link removed]) featuring SAM Director of Community Outreach and Engagement Will Jones ([link removed]) .

The Beacon: Kansas City cannabis companies’ wish for the new year: Lower federal taxes ([link removed])


** Legislative Update
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The 119th Congress gaveled into session on January 3rd, and SAM’s federal affairs team is already off to the races. We are laying the groundwork to go on offense in this year’s tax bill, appropriations process, and Farm Bill.

Our team has already met with new members of Congress to start building what will be key relationships. As the new Administration takes shape, SAM stands ready to advance our agenda alongside leaders at key federal agencies!

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This month’s The Drug Report Podcast ([link removed]) addresses inspiring updates and the policy outlook for the new Congress. Join Luke Niforatos and Jordan Davidson as they discuss the states and federal marijuana outlook, how the prescription marijuana epidemic compares to the opioid epidemic of the 1990s, and address the question, “Can relentless advocacy truly shape the future of marijuana legislation?”

Click here to listen to the podcast ([link removed])


** State Updates
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* New Hampshire: It looks like marijuana legalization will not be happening in New Hampshire anytime soon. New Hampshire House Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R) noted, “that ship has sailed. I mean, we had an opportunity with the last governor to put that issue behind us, and we, frankly, blew it. So, I don't imagine coming back to that for another decade, probably." Read more here ([link removed]) .
* Minnesota: Licenses for state recreational marijuana dispensaries could be delayed for up to a year while lawmakers work to approve laws and policies for the program. Read more here. ([link removed])
* Connecticut: On the anniversary of commercial marijuana sales in the state, data is showing that legalizing the drug has produced little fiscal benefit while continuing to damage public health and safety, most notably on the roads. Read more here ([link removed]) .
* California: With significant increases in contaminated products reaching the public, notable increases in hospitalizations and emergency room visits for children, and little fiscal benefit, the state’s marijuana legalization program is proving to be more harmful than beneficial and regulation efforts have not been successful. Read more here ([link removed]) .
* Illinois: Another state checks in with more public health and safety issues not worth the benefits as far as commercial marijuana. Read more here ([link removed]) .
* Colorado: From an increase in the sale of contaminated products to a near doubling of suicides among those between the ages of 15 and 19, the state’s marijuana policies have caused significant harm to public health and safety since 2014. Read more here ([link removed]) .


** Grassroots
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As we come into the new year, Parent Action Network ([link removed]) continues to grow, having welcomed many new advocates wanting to share their stories. PAN’s 2nd Annual Training Conference and Hill Day will take place February 3-4 in Washington, DC. Twenty-four PAN family members will participate in a full day of training for legislative meetings and then have the opportunity to meet directly with legislators, sharing their personal stories. This event will give them the skills they need to advocate at the federal level as well as at home in their own states.
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PAN also continues to initiate training and advocacy opportunities by featuring vital information through our newsletter and webinar series. PAN's Director, Crissy Groenewegen, hosts the Fortitude Podcast ([link removed]) and is always looking for parents willing to share their story. Please email her at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=&body=) if you are interested.


** Events and Trainings
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Montana: SAM Executive Vice President Luke Niforatos provided a presentation on the dangers of high-potency THC products to legislators and staff at the Montana State Capitol in Helena. An encouraging number of lawmakers attended, including the Senate Majority Leader, who is carrying one of SAM’s coalition's bills. To have this kind of momentum in Montana is incredible, proving once again that this mission takes patience and persistence!

Rhode Island: Jordan Davidson, SAM’s Government Affairs Manager, provided a presentation in Bristol, Rhode Island, at the Cultivating Cannabis Awareness: An Educational Symposium. The conference, organized by the East Bay Regional Coalition and Roger Williams University, brought together over 150 attendees from across Rhode Island to learn about the dangers and effects of cannabis use among young adults.

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2024 Was a Success! Now Get Ready for an Even Bigger Impact at the 2025 SAM Good Drug Policy Summit! ([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.


** SAM Good Drug Policy Summit Sponsorship Opportunities
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Sponsorship opportunities are now available for the 2025 SAM Good Drug Policy Summit. For more information on how to become a sponsor please contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=&body=) .


** SAM Trainings: Schedule a SAM Training today and learn what to say and how to say it.
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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
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** JAMA Study: “The rise in CHS coincides with legalization of recreational cannabis. ([link removed]) ” ([link removed])
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JAMA recently published Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome ([link removed]) on their patient education page.

The article noted that “although the exact number of people with CHS is unknown, based on emergency department surveys, CHS is estimated to affect about 2.75 million people in the US yearly...from 2017 to 2021, emergency department visits for CHS doubled in the US and Canada and were most common among males aged 16 to 34 years.”


** Resource
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** SAM’s Marijuana, Opioids, and Pain Management ([link removed]) One-Pager
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Does marijuana legalization decrease or increase opioid use, and how does it affect opioid misuse deaths? Download SAM’s one-pager for all the information you need on the the link between marijuana legalization and the opioid crisis.

Click here ([link removed]) for our one-pager on Marijuana, Opioids, and Pain Management.
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