FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 16, 2020 Coalition of Thirty Groups Send Letter in Opposition to MORE Act to US House Leadership (Alexandria, VA) -Today, a coalition of social justice, drug prevention, recovery, family, and faith organizations penned a joint letter to leadership of the United States House of Representatives strongly opposing the MORE Act, a bill to federally legalize the commercial marijuana industry that is tentatively scheduled for a vote the week of September 21st. According to the letter the MORE Act would not simply decriminalize marijuana, as some proponents have claimed, but rather “fully legalize and commercialize the drug. This would allow major corporations like Altria (formerly Philip Morris, makers of Marlboro Cigarettes), vaping giants Juul and PAX, and Imperial Brands (makers of Kool Cigarettes) to deepen their existing investments into the marijuana industry and expand those investments to capture the United States market.” “Allowing a massive corporate takeover of an addictive drug with scientifically proven public health harms is not good for our nation as we continue to grapple with a global pandemic, along with a crippling opioid crisis,” the letter continued. “The ‘MORE’ Act contains virtually no public health guardrails. If passed, the bill would fully legalize unlimited potency marijuana products, including high potency flavored vapes in Juul-like devices and nearly any other product appealing to youth.” “Almost 200,000 Americans have lost their lives in the COVID-19 pandemic, and countless others are barely making ends meet as a result of the economic fallout. That anyone in Congress could fathom holding so much as a meeting on marijuana legalization at this time is beyond comprehension,” said Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and a former senior drug policy advisor to the Obama Administration. “We are proud to lead such a broad coalition in opposition to this bill and are happy to report that we have already seen thousands of our supporters take action against this bill.” Full text of the letter: September 16, 2020 RE: Oppose the Commercialization and Mass Marketing of High Potency Marijuana Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Leader Hoyer, Whip Scalise, Chairman Nadler, and Ranking Member Jordan, There have been reports that the House of Representatives may take up and vote on H.R. 3884, the Marijuana Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act later this month. As Americans on the front lines in the battle against opioid and drug addiction, and on the side of treatment and prevention, we write to strongly oppose this bill. This legislation is being touted as a social justice bill aimed at decriminalizing marijuana and expunging the record of low-level offenders. In fact, this bill as currently drafted would not just decriminalize marijuana, but fully legalize and commercialize the drug. This would allow major corporations like Altria (formerly Philip Morris, makers of Marlboro Cigarettes), vaping giants Juul and PAX, and Imperial Brands (makers of Kool Cigarettes) to deepen their existing investments into the marijuana industry and expand those investments to capture the United States market. The latest research and science should bring us all pause: Recent research published by JAMA predicts 6,800 additional stoned driving deaths on the road nationally should federal legalization become reality. Illicit markets have thrived in every ‘legal’ state, such as Oregon, where illegal marijuana makes up more than 70% of the market. The for-profit marijuana industry targets kids, both offline and on social media. Marijuana is addictive and may cause mental illnesses, ranging from anxiety and depression to schizophrenia and psychosis, and even suicidal thoughts, even more when initiated in youth. Marijuana use has an association with future substance misuse and addiction. Research has found users of marijuana are more likely to misuse prescription opioids. Though the majority of those using marijuana won’t go on to other drugs, more than 95% of those using heroin and cocaine started with marijuana. Marijuana use can severely impact brain development in youth, leading to lower IQ and worse mental health, academic, and professional outcomes. With a for-profit industry marketing in a variety of ways, more pregnant women than ever are using marijuana, and this has resulted in severe consequences for newborns. Marijuana use can also cause cardiovascular harm, and may lead to certain kinds of cancer. The “MORE” Act contains virtually no public health guardrails. If passed, the bill would fully legalize unlimited potency marijuana products, including high potency flavored vapes in Juul-like devices and nearly any other product appealing to youth. Any form of advertising would be allowed, including on television and during events such as the Super Bowl. Allowing a massive corporate takeover of an addictive drug with scientifically proven public health harms is not good for our nation as we continue to grapple with a global pandemic, along with a crippling opioid crisis. Should this bill pass into law, the FDA and USDA will not have the resources or ability to effectively regulate these products for the safety of consumers. We urge you to reject this bill. Sincerely, Smart Approaches to Marijuana Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals National Association for Children of Addiction (NACoA) Family Policy Alliance Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee Family Research Council Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation National Drug Free Workplace Alliance National Families in Action Caron Treatment Centers Drug Free Schools Coalition Coalition of Public Safety Officer Support Services Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) International Faith Based Coalition Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc. Rosenthal Center for Addiction Studies Drug Free America Foundations, Inc. Save Our Society from Drugs Resilient Futures Network, LLC California Narcotic Officers Association Florida Coalition Alliance Greater New Orleans Drug Demand Reduction Coalition Cannabis Industry Victims Educating Litigators Marijuana Victims Alliance Moms Strong Parents Opposed to Pot Every Brain Matters ### About SAM Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) is a nonpartisan, non-profit alliance of physicians, policy makers, prevention workers, treatment and recovery professionals, scientists, and other concerned citizens opposed to marijuana legalization who want health and scientific evidence to guide marijuana policies. SAM has affiliates in more than 30 states. Media Contact: Colton Grace (864) 492-6719 [email protected] FOLLOW US ‌ ‌ Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) | 400 N. Columbus Street, Suite 202, Alexandria, VA 22314 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!