(Alexandria, VA) - Today, the United States Senate confirmed Dr. Rahul Gupta by voice vote to be the nation’s new “Drug Czar,” heading up the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Dr. Kevin Sabet, co-founder and president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and a former senior drug policy advisor to the Obama Administration released the following statement congratulating Dr. Gupta on his confirmation:
“We are delighted to see Dr. Rahul Gupta, the first ever medical doctor in this role, receive his confirmation to lead the ONDCP as a part of the Biden Administration. I have had the pleasure of getting to know Dr. Gupta over the past few years. His leadership during West Virginia’s response to the opioid crisis brings me hope he will be a strong leader for the ONDCP at this critical time.
“Further, we know Dr. Gupta shares President Joe Biden’s concerns – echoed by a chorus of public health experts and scientists – about rising rates of marijuana use across the country.
“While we are pleased with this news, we are disappointed to see the office will not be elevated to a Cabinet-level position. We will continue to call on the Biden Administration to re-elevate the ONDCP to Cabinet-level, especially as our nation is in the midst of an addiction crisis.”
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