As I lay out in the piece, the status quo isn't enough—we need robust prevention, intervention, and treatment, but we don't need to saddle people with criminal records for possession. However, that is very different from the route we are currently on. Continued legalization and commercialization are disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities, increasing negative consequences like poison calls and ER visits, and hurting our kids.
Senators Chuck Schumer, Ron Wyden, and Cory Booker’s draft bill would go far beyond decriminalization by creating a commercial marijuana industry and essentially forcing states that have not legalized to do so.
Even worse, the draft bill does absolutely nothing to stop Big Tobacco and alcohol companies from taking over the industry.
Lastly, I also wanted to share my letter to the editor that was printed this weekend in the Washington Post in response to a harmful piece, that employed straw-man arguments, old studies, and hyperbole, written by former Post writer Christopher Ingraham.
As always, thank you so much for your support. Being able to have SAM’s work printed in such notable media outlets speaks volumes to the influence our movement has and provides much-needed balance to the conversation that so routinely gets crowded with pro-industry voices. We could not do any of this without you.
Could you chip-in $1,000, $500, $250, or even just $100 to our cause today?
No matter the amount, your gift will help keep us on the front of the fight against the second coming of Big Tobacco and the unlimited amount of funding available to the pot industry and its supporters.
Thank you for all that you do. Together, we are saving lives.
