Upcoming Event
Smokescreen Facebook Live Interview Series


Be sure to join us today at 2:00 PM Eastern for the latest episode of our Smokescreen Facebook Live Interview Series! 

This week, we are pleased to be joined by former United States Attorney for Colorado, Mr. Bob Troyer, another individual prominently featured in my new book, Smokescreen: What the Marijuana Industry Doesn't Want You to Know.

Join us today at 2:00 PM on our Facebook page as we talk about his experiences with the marijuana industry and why he is so outspoken today in the fight to implement a cap on marijuana potency and other common-sense regulations. 

Federal Policy Update
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer: "Legalization Bill Will Be Introduced Soon"
As you may know, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has promised to soon introduce a bill to legalize marijuana at the federal level. This is concerning, but from meetings SAM staff has had with Democratic senators we know that not all of the Senate Democratic Caucus is in support of the Majority Leader's effort. 

This is corroborated in this recent article from Politico.

However, the pot lobby is not to be so easily thwarted. Now, they are demanding that Senator Schumer's bill be included in an upcoming, must-pass spending bill that will be passed via an arcane process that would bypass the standard 60-vote threshold in the senate. 

We cannot let this happen. 

Click here to send your senators an urgent message telling them to oppose passing a marijuana legalization bill through a rushed budget process.
The Battle for THC Potency Caps
Following the successful implementation of THC potency caps in Vermont, we have been diligently working with lawmakers and groups around the country to build support for expanding this policy to other states that have legalized. Check out this recent article from The Denver Post about the ongoing effort that is taking place in Colorado:


To help spread the word on the harms of high potency marijuana and the need for THC potency caps, we put together a comprehensive handout outlining the background of the rise of THC potency, the harms of high potency marijuana use, and several policy solutions we support to better protect public health and safety: 



Industry Lobbying
According to reporting from Cannabis Wire, there are several new, large corporations lobbying the federal government on marijuana. 

Here's a quick rundown of companies, corporations, and other large establishments that recently began lobbying on marijuana: 

Altria - Big Tobacco
Phillip Morris - Big Tobacco
Reynolds American Inc - Big Tobacco
Molson Coors - Big Alcohol
Diageo North America - Big Alcohol Producer
Brink's - Banking
Cannabis Freedom Alliance - Coalition of libertarian groups backed by the billionaire Charles Koch
Morgan Stanley - Major Investment Firm
 
Cannabis Use Disorder Linked to Serious Infant Health Issues

A new NIH study of nearly five million live births sheds further light on the dangers of marijuana use during pregnancy.  

According to the study, "prenatal [cannabis use disorder] was associated with major adverse neonatal outcomes, including greater odds of small for gestational age, preterm birth, low birth weight, and death within 1 year of birth." 

Recent Explosion in the Use of Marijuana E-Cigarettes Among Youth 

In JAMA Pediatrics, a new study found massive, significant increases in the use of marijuana e-cigarettes in youth over the past three years. The highest prevalence was found to be among Hispanic youths, followed closely by non-Hispanic Black youths.

According to the study, 1 in 5 U.S. middle and high school students (5.1 million), including 7 in 10 who currently used e-cigarettes (2.3 million), reported ever using marijuana in e-cigarettes in 2020.


Marijuana Legalization in Mexico Unlikely to Lead to a Reduction in Violence

A tremendous series of articles by Brookings Institution scholar Vanda Felbab-Brown explores the many reasons why marijuana legalization in Mexico is doomed to fail. 

The most recent article focuses on how legalization will be unlikely to eradicate the existing illicit market and how it could actually exacerbate issues with cartel violence and corruption. 

 

 
The Epoch Times recently featured SAM President Dr. Kevin Sabet in an article titled, "Clearing the Smoke: A Former Presidential Adviser's Fight Against Cannabis." 

In the article, you'll learn more about Dr. Sabet's background, his advocacy work against legalization and why he calls it "Big Tobacco 2.0."
 
Op-Ed Corner

Smokescreen: What the Marijuana Industry Doesn't Want You to Know
We are proud to say that copies of Dr. Kevin Sabet's new book, Smokescreen: What the Marijuana Industry Doesn't Want You to Know, are flying off the shelves after being officially published last week! 

Smokescreen serves as an exposé on the marijuana industry and pulls the rug out from under the industry's promoters. 

Click here to order your copy today!
As always, thank you for being a SAM supporter. If you can, please support our efforts with a small donation by clicking here.

If you can't chip-in, then at the very least, please click here to share this with a friend and help grow the SAM community.  

All the best,

Colton Grace
Communications Associate
Smart Approaches to Marijuana
  
Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), 107 S. West Street, Suite 757, Alexandria, VA 22314
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