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** President Trump Illegally Reschedules “Medical” Marijuana ([link removed])
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Last week, the Trump administration, following an Executive Order from President Trump and a subsequent decision from Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, skipped legally required procedures and directly rescheduled ([link removed]) state-legal "medical" marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. Not only is this decision legally questionable; it is backdoor legalization of the state-run ([link removed]) “medical” marijuana programs that have devastated families across the country.

If this is allowed to stand, it will give America's addiction profiteers massive new tax breaks worth billions that will help them target our kids.

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** THC INC Premieres And Is Now Available for Streaming! ([link removed])
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Essential new documentary THC INC, for which SAM CEO Kevin A. Sabet served as executive producer, premiered at Wayfarer Theater in Highland Park on April 27.

Now also streaming on Documentary+ ([link removed]) , the film takes an educational look at today’s high‑potency marijuana landscape and what legalization, marketing, and normalization mean for young people, families, and public health.

Click Here to Watch Trailer ([link removed])

Are you looking to engage your community in a deeper conversation about marijuana? You can host a free community screening of THC INC. with support from our partners at Picture Motion, along with exclusive access to a screening toolkit and educational resources designed to foster informed, stigma‑free dialogue.

Want to Host Your Own THC INC Screening? Click Here ([link removed])

You can also contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) for more info.

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** NEW PODCAST: High Stakes with Dr. Kevin Sabet is Now Streaming! ([link removed])
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High Stakes with Kevin Sabet is the official podcast of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS).

This podcast examines the real-world consequences of marijuana policy in American and around the world through the lens of science, public health, and responsible policy. German Lopez, Editorial Board Writer at The New York Times, joins Kevin Sabet for the inaugural episode, where they discuss the editorial board’s recent article, "It’s Time for America to Admit That It Has a Marijuana Problem.”

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** 4/20, Public Health, and What SAM is Doing ([link removed])
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Kevin Sabet and Former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy have a wide-ranging conversation on what SAM has been up to, the latest in public health and prevention, and how to push back against addiction for profit.

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** Supervised Consumption Sites: Ineffective and Illegal ([link removed])
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On April 14, Kevin Sabet and Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow Charles Fain Lehman presented their new report ([link removed]) on the dangers of these sites, showing how in New York and Canada they do more harm than good.


** In the News
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Kevin Sabet and Charles Fain Lehman refute the premise of supervised consumption sites ([link removed])
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Kevin explodes the economic myths powering Big Weed ([link removed])
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Kevin reveals the worrying data Trump’s psychedelics EO obscures ([link removed])
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Kevin digs deeper on the dangerous psychedelics EO ([link removed])


** Rescheduling Roundup
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You can find crucial analysis of Trump’s move from our CEO Kevin Sabet in the major media outlets below:

The Wall Street Journal ([link removed]) : The Trump Administration Reclassifies Marijuana as Less Dangerous Drug

The Washington Post ([link removed]) : Trump Officials Reclassify Marijuana as Lower-Risk Drug

Associated Press ([link removed]) : Trump Reclassifies State-Licensed Medical Marijuana as Less- Dangerous Drug in a Historic Shift

NPR ([link removed]) : Trump Administration Eases Rules on Some Marijuana Categories. Here’s What To Know

POLITICO ([link removed]) : Trump Moves to Reschedule Marijuana

The Hill ([link removed]) : Trump is Stepping Carefully into the Weeds of Marijuana Legalization

The Los Angeles Times ([link removed]) : What Does the Federal Reclassification of Marijuana Actually Mean?


** Legislative Update
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April was a busy and difficult month in drug policy. We saw President Trump issue a final order to reschedule marijuana ([link removed]) , executive order expanding access to psychedelics, ([link removed]) and statement urging Congress to reverse closing the hemp loophole. Our government affairs team has been all over Capitol Hill educating members of Congress about the harms of these decisions and will have more concrete action to report on in the coming weeks and months. But we're already off to a good start. This week, the Farm Bill will come up for a vote in the US House of

Representatives. After the White House pushed Kentucky Congressman Andy Barr to introduce a Farm Bill amendment to reverse the hemp-THC ban, our team and coalition partners worked with the Agriculture Committee to force Rep. Barr to withdraw the amendment!


** State Updates
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Texas: A district judge in Texas has issued a temporary order ([link removed]) to halt the state’s ban on the sale of smokable intoxicating hemp.

Tennessee: HB 1649, which would ban the sale and possession of kratom ([link removed]) , has passed both chambers and is now headed to Governor Bill Lee’s desk. Last month, SAM submitted a letter of support for HB 1649.

Lawmakers in Tennessee also passed SB 1603 ([link removed]) , which would block the rescheduling of marijuana under Tennessee’s CSA if the federal government reschedules the drug.

Virginia: Lawmakers rejected ([link removed]) Governor Abigail Spanberger’s recommended changes to HB 642, which would legalize retail marijuana sales. Her proposed changes included reducing the allowed possession limit from 2.5 ounces to 2 ounces, lowering the number of dispensaries from 350 to 200, increasing the excise tax from 6% to 8% after 2029, delaying the start date from January 2027 to July 2027, and making public use a Class 4 Misdemeanor rather than a $25.00 fine. The original bill, without her changes, heads back to her desk, where she has 30 days to either sign it, veto it, or allow it to become law without her signature.

Kansas: Governor Laura Kelly signed legislation ([link removed]) prohibiting the sale and possession of kratom and synthetic derivatives such as 7-OH

Mississippi: Governor Tate Reeves vetoed two bills ([link removed]) that would have greatly expanded access to “medical” marijuana and removed potency caps on marijuana products. SAM was honored to have played a role in advocating for the veto of both bills.

West Virginia: Governor Patrick Morrisey vetoed legislation that would have directed state funds to drug trials for ibogaine. Ibogaine is a harmful psychedelic that has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat any condition or disorder.


** Grassroots
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April is the fourth anniversary of the Parent Action Network (PAN), marking a time for us to reflect on how we’ve grown and delivered on our promise to offer you a multitude of opportunities to share your stories. We are so proud to have built this army of courageous parents and families who have stepped up to advocate for public policies that better protect public health––and especially the health of our loved ones.

We continue to share important features and actions in our monthly newsletters, host important webinars ([link removed]) that highlight the science supported by your experiences, and advocate on Capitol Hill during our annual Training Conference & Hill Day. We also continue to interview parents on the Fortitude Podcast ([link removed]) , and in honor of PAN’s anniversary, we were joined by SAM President and CEO Dr. Kevin A. Sabet ([link removed]) . Dr. Sabet reflected on his vision in creating PAN and why parent voices matter now more than ever.

Lastly, we continue to provide you with state-level opportunities. This month alone, we were able to provide opportunities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, and California where your voices made a difference. We are so proud of all the parents for their courageous efforts, and we look forward to continuing this work together.


** Events and Trainings
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** 2027 SAM Good Drug Policy Summit ([link removed])
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** Thursday, February 4, 2027
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** National Harbor, MD
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Registration is open for the 2027 SAM Good Drug Policy Summit taking place in partnership with the CADCA National Leadership Forum at the Gaylord National Resort & Conference Center in National Harbor, MD. This year, we’re bringing everything together into one can’t-miss day filled with impactful and timely drug policy presentations on Thursday, February 4!

We will bring together leading voices in drug policy, including experts in prevention, treatment, recovery, and law enforcement. This collaboration will amplify our collective impact and drive forward solutions by equipping decision-makers and the public with science-based approaches to preventing drug use, treating addiction, and supporting recovery.
Register Today! ([link removed])

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** 2027 Tuerk Conference in Maryland
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SAM President & CEO Dr. Kevin Sabet provided the opening keynote ([link removed]) at the 38th Annual Tuerk Conference on Mental Health & Addiction Treatment in Baltimore, MD.

Dr. Kevin Sabet delivered a presentation at the 2026 Building Bridges Conference hosted by the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth & Their Families.

Dr. Kevin Sabet & SAM Executive Vice President Luke Niforatos participated in a webinar for Standford Medicine’s REACH Lab during their 7th Teaching Cannabis (and other drugs!) Awareness & Prevention Virtual Conference.

Dr. Kevin Sabet participated on a panel session at the Canada Strong and Free Network's 2026 Vancouver Regional Conference in Vancouver, BC.


** 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.

Attendees will also get an in-depth look at our new 2026-2027 Impact Report, which is filled with new data, key insights, and the latest developments shaping marijuana policy and public health.

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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** Only 44% of California “budtenders” said without prompting that pregnant women should speak to a doctor about marijuana use. ([link removed])
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A recent study in JAMA Network Open ([link removed]) analyzed how “budtenders”—people who work in marijuana stores—talked about the dangerous products they sell. Here’s what they found ([link removed]) .


** Resource
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** Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions’ Supervised Consumption Site (SCS) Report ([link removed])
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Supervised consumption sites are facilities where people can use drugs with overdose reversal tools and staff nearby to administer them. The looming question is, are they effective as a tool to mitigate the addiction and overdose crisis?

Find the answer in FDPS’ new report, Supervised Consumption Sites: Ineffective and Illegal ([link removed]) , ([link removed]) compiled by Charles Fain Lehman of the Manhattan Institute and Dr. Kevin A. Sabet of the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions.


** Donate ([link removed])
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The administration’s decision to move forward with marijuana rescheduling is a turning point. By sidestepping long-standing scientific and legal safeguards, this move risks sending a dangerous message that today’s high-potency marijuana products are safer than they are. It gives new credibility to an industry that has consistently downplayed the real harms, even as communities across the country continue to face the consequences. Years of progress educating the public and policymakers are now at risk.

SAM is responding with urgency through legal action ([link removed]) , federal engagement, and continued advocacy to ensure this decision is fully scrutinized. But this is a defining moment, and the opposition is well-funded and moving quickly. Your support ([link removed]) today will help us stay in the fight, provide credible information to decision-makers, and continue protecting public health.

Please consider making a gift to help us meet this moment ([link removed]) .

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Copyright 2026 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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