A brief rundown of marijuana news, research highlights, and SAM events so far in 2022 |
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The Complexities of
Addiction Treatment
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In response to a piece published by The New York Times on addiction and the decriminalization of all drugs, SAM CEO Dr. Kevin Sabet & Dr. Mitch Rosenthal authored a letter to the editor:
"[D]ecriminalization without accountability, which ultimately leads to the full legalization of drugs like heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine, will only worsen our nation’s addiction problem."
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Colorado's Crime Wave and Marijuana Policies |
In the Gazette: "Coloradans’ concerns about public safety are growing, and for good reason... from 2011-2020...a 35% jump in violent crime, and a historic rise in property crimes. Amid the clamor for solutions, we shouldn’t forget about marijuana’s contribution to this mess."
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‘Talk About Clusterf---’:
Why Legal Weed Didn’t Kill Oregon’s Black Market
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“Legalization exacerbates the issue of illicit growing operations because it increases the demand for the product. With more users emerging throughout the state, more sellers — both legal and illegal — begin working to match the supply. The state has done little to curb demand because it has little incentive to do so.”
-SAM President & CEO Dr. Kevin Sabet
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Big Weed is on the Brink of Scoring Big Political Wins.
So Where Are They?
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“Marijuana advocacy is no longer about hippies and long hair, it’s about suits and Harvard MBAs”
-SAM President & CEO Dr. Kevin Sabet
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The Marijuana Debate in Indiana: PBS |
SAM President & CEO Dr. Kevin Sabet joined public television's Indiana Lawmakers to set the record straight on the consequences of potential legalization and decriminalization of marijuana in Indiana.
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Setting the Record Straight on Legalization's Popularity |
In light of the new nationwide Emerson College poll that found 62% of registered voters do not support legalizing marijuana when presented with other, non-legalization policy options, SAM President & CEO Dr. Kevin Sabet was interviewed by WTOP, one of the top Washington, D.C.-area radio stations.
As Dr. Sabet explained, despite the narrative pushed by many legalization advocates, "the attitude with legalization is much more nuanced."
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Have We Lost the Cannabis Legalization War? |
Is there even a war on drugs anymore?
How can people in prevention go against a billion-dollar marijuana goliath industry?
SAM President & CEO Dr. Kevin Sabet had a thoughtful conversation with Dr. Roneet Lev on the High Truths podcast.
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The Maryland Legalization Push Continues |
As the Maryland General Assembly debates legalizing recreational marijuana, SAM is working to educate lawmakers on the dangers of legalization. On February 14, SAM Executive Vice President Luke Niforatos and Communications and Legislative Affairs Officer Jordan Davidson testified before the Maryland General Assembly in opposition to the legalization measures currently before the Maryland General Assembly.
Luke testified through the lens as a Colorado citizen: “Law enforcement [in Colorado] has never had to spend more money on the marijuana problem than they have since they legalized it.” Click here to view Luke's testimony
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Registration is now open for the 10th Annual SAM Summit taking place in Atlanta, Georgia, alongside the Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit.
This is the perfect option for interested parties to learn more about what the current research says about the negative effects of marijuana normalization on public health and safety.
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Are you an organization that is looking for an opportunity to support and engage at our annual 2022 SAM Summit?
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The 2022 SAM Summit is sponsored by: |
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SAM Webinar with Dr. Nora Volkow, Patrick J. Kennedy
and Dr. Kevin Sabet
Last month National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Dr. Nora Volkow and former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy joined SAM and Dr. Kevin Sabet for a conversation about the clinical outcomes of marijuana use, particularly among teens.
The 2022 SAM Webinar Series is sponsored by D.A.R.E.
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Do you want to educate your community and/or employees on all issues surrounding marijuana? Hold a SAM training session with one of our credentialed speakers!
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2021 Annual Report Released
- $125.7 million in earned media, almost $100 million more than 2020
- 40+ opinion pieces placed in more than 25 publications nationwide
- Publishing of Smokescreen: What the Marijuana Industry Doesn't Want You To Know
- Supported the nation's first marijuana potency limit in Vermont
- Joined a large coalition in Colorado to implement the state’s first regulatory overhaul and THC potency study commission
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New Poll Finds 62% of Americans Favor Marijuana Policies Other Than Legalization |
This new poll, conducted by Emerson College, found that the majority of voters support other non-legalization marijuana policies (prohibition, decriminalization, or medical legalization) while only 38% believe the country should move to legalize and commercialize marijuana for production, recreational use, and sales, like in stores.
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Marijuana Use Affects Long-Term Thinking and Planning |
"Studies have long shown that getting high can harm cognitive function. Now, a new review of research, published Thursday in the journal Addiction, finds that impact may last well beyond the initial high..."
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Driving While High Numbers Double After Legalization |
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The New England Journal of Medicine published a new study that found "[a]fter cannabis legalization, the prevalence of moderately injured drivers...in participating British Columbia trauma centers more than doubled."
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SAM relies on the financial support of our partnerships and donors to keep providing the service of our mission, which is to educate citizens on the science of marijuana and to promote health-first, smart policies and attitudes that decrease marijuana use and its consequences. |
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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 three dozen states. |
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