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

Friends,

People of all faiths in the U.S. woke up today to the news today that Pope Francis passed away peacefully at the age of 88. He will be remembered for many things, but one thing some don’t realize is his enormous contribution to good drug policy.

In 2015, I was asked to help organize a U.S. delegation to the Vatican to advise the Pontifical Academy on drug policy issues. I was told that Pope Francis was very concerned about the growing calls to legalize drugs, especially marijuana.

Our visit happened in 2016 and I was joined by Dr. Nora Volkow, Dr. Jon Caulkins, Dr. Bertha Madras, and Dr. Bob DuPont. It was a privilege to be part of this “dream team” and hold a small meeting with the Pope where we discussed global drug challenges. ([link removed]) You can see my presentation here on video ([link removed]) taken by the Vatican.

“A reduction in drug dependence is not obtained by liberalizing consumption. This is a fantasy.”

- Pope Francis, June 2024

Pope Francis advocated for his beliefs far after his conference with us. Just last year ([link removed]) , he called legalizing drugs as a means to make progress “a fantasy” in his last weekly catechesis of that month. Notably, he did not dedicate this weekly catechesis to a religious theme, as he usually does. Instead, he devoted the entire time to drug trafficking and legalization, ending with a prayer for world peace.
[link removed]

The Pope’s contribution to drug policy will be felt for generations. May he rest in peace.
[link removed]

Dr. Kevin A. Sabet

CEO & President

Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM)
[link removed]

Follow SAM on Social Media:
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]

Smart Approaches to Marijuana ([link removed]) (SAM) is an alliance of organizations and individuals dedicated to a health-first approach to marijuana policy. We are professionals working in mental health and public health. We are bipartisan. We are medical doctors, lawmakers, treatment providers, preventionists, teachers, law enforcement officers and others who seek a middle road between incarceration and legalization. Our commonsense, third-way approach to marijuana policy is based on reputable science and sound principles of public health and safety.

Copyright (C) 2025 Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM). All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.
Our mailing address is:
Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) 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])

This email was sent to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
why did I get this? ([link removed]) unsubscribe from this list ([link removed]) update subscription preferences ([link removed])
Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) . 107 S West St. Ste. 757 . Alexandria, VA 22314 . USA