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SAM and FDPS Preview The Hyannis Consensus: The Blueprint for Effective Drug Policy at the 68th Session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND)

SAM’s President Dr. Kevin A. Sabet and Executive Vice President Luke Niforatos attended the 68th session of the United Nations CND.

We were honored to not only attend but also address delegates from all over the world, emphasizing that

“our north star must always be to discourage drug use in the first place. We strive for a society free of poverty, conflict, and prejudice—why not free of drugs?” ([link removed])

Click here to see more on our work this year at CND. ([link removed][UNIQID])


** Reuters Article Highlights the Work of SAM ([link removed])
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SAM has had an incredibly impactful six months. A recent Reuters article ([link removed]) documents the growing retreat from marijuana legalization and efforts to roll back regulations and acknowledges the role SAM has played in shifting the national conversation.

Read the article here ([link removed]) .
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** SAM In the News
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Newsweek (Op-Ed): International Drug Policy Should Put Health First. That Means Discouraging Use ([link removed])
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City Journal (Op-Ed): New York’s Pot Boom Is Nothing to Celebrate ([link removed])
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Newsweek: America's Marijuana Legalization Experiment Is Going Up in Smoke ([link removed])
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** Don’t miss the latest episode of The Drug Report Podcast, “What’s Next in U.S. Drug Policy?” ([link removed]) Drug policy in America is at a critical inflection point. Following a period dominated by extreme harm reduction approaches, we’re witnessing a significant shift back toward accountability-based treatment models, as evidenced by recent changes in cities like San Francisco and states like Oregon.
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** Legislative Update
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As spring blooms in Washington, all eyes are on the congressional appropriations process. SAM has a record number of legislative priorities for this year’s government funding package. From getting pot shops away from schools and increasing research on marijuana’s harms, to preventing marijuana rescheduling, SAM’s government affairs team is excited to continue fighting Big Marijuana through the appropriations process!


** State Updates
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Texas: Texas SB 3, which would prohibit the retail sale of any cannabinoid in Texas except for CBD and CBG, cleared the Senate and is progressing to the House. This bill would ban Delta-8, Delta-9, and all other forms of intoxicating THC, including beverages. Companion bills HB 28 ([link removed]) and HB 2155 ([link removed]) have been sent to the House State Affairs Committee. Learn more here ([link removed]) .

Virginia: Governor Glenn Youngkin has once again put public health and safety above industry profit, vetoing a bill that would have allowed for a retail marijuana sales market in the state. Learn more here ([link removed]) .

Maine: State Senator Scott Cyray is sponsoring legislation that would prohibit all forms of marijuana marketing and advertising in the state in order to “put up guardrails” to protect children. Learn more here ([link removed]) .


South Dakota: The state legislature has approved several new measures restricting citizen ballot measures, and the proposals are now waiting on approval from Governor Larry Rhoden. If approved, these measures “would shorten petition signature collection periods, require signatures from specific geographic areas and increase the voter approval threshold for constitutional amendments.” Learn more here ([link removed]) .


Tennessee: Partisan lawmakers introduced the “Tennessee Pot for Potholes Act,” which would attempt to legalize the commercial sale of high-potency marijuana and use the tax revenue to improve roads across the state. Kevin A. Sabet responded by noting that “the data across the country is clear and unmistakable—commercial sales of marijuana and THC drugs don’t produce revenue to fill potholes, pay for schools, or recoup other societal and government costs.” Learn more here ([link removed]) .


** Stat of the Month
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** Marijuana Users Under the Age of 50 Were Six Times More Likely than Non-Users to Experience a Heart Attack ([link removed])
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A recent study ([link removed]) published in JACC Advances, affiliated with the American College of Cardiology, found that marijuana users under the age of 50 were six times more likely than non-users to experience a heart attack, 4 times more likely to experience an ischemic stroke, and twice as likely to experience heart failure than non-users.

Learn more here ([link removed])


** Events and Trainings
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SAM President Dr. Kevin A. Sabet and Executive Vice President Luke Niforatos will be speaking at the National Alliance for Drug and Endangered Children’s (DEC) DEC Awareness Day. You can register for the April 23rd “All Hands on DEC” virtual event by clicking here ([link removed]) .
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If you missed the 2025 SAM Good Drug Policy Summit, held in National Harbor, Maryland, you can find videos of all the speakers from this important event on SAM’s YouTube page.

Click here to find the “SAM Summit 2025” playlist ([link removed]) .


** 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]) .


** Grassroots
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As the marijuana legalization landscape remains a topic for debate, the Parent Action Network (PAN) continues to provide the tools and training to our parents and families, building strong advocates who feel confident and equipped to tell their stories and advocate for better policies that will protect public health and safety. You can hear many of these stories on our Fortitude Podcast here ([link removed]) .
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We are currently encouraging all advocates to show their appreciation to U.S. Rep. Mary Miller for writing an amendment ([link removed]) to the 2018 Farm bill that would ban all hemp-derived products. If you haven’t already done so, you can read the letter here ([link removed]) and add your signature here ([link removed]) .

We want to thank all of you who continue to come forward to share your stories and are willing to advocate on Capitol Hill and in your states. Thank you to all who trust PAN to provide you with relevant resources and for supporting our efforts. To learn more about PAN, email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .


** Resources
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** Mark Gold Lecture Series: The rise and rise of drug-induced psychosis ([link removed])
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Sir Robin Murray, Ph.D. Professor of Psychiatric Research King’s College, London, gives one of the best presentations available on marijuana and schizophrenia.
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Marijuana-induced psychosis has become much more common with the relaxation of legal constraints on its use, and the increasingly high potency of the substance in many countries, and recent studies are showing that THC administered to normal volunteers can readily induce a transient psychosis.

Click here to listen to this presentation. ([link removed])


** Donate ([link removed])
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** Leave a legacy at SAM
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Have you ever considered a planned gift to power our work? Planned gifts cost nothing now but help fund our mission for years to come. It can be as easy as simply placing us in your will or estate plans. Contact John Spurlock, Chief Development Officer, at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=&body=) to learn more.

You can donate to support SAM’s work here ([link removed]) .

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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
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