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** Reason Debate: Kevin Sabet wins debate on drug decriminalization against Zach Weissmueller in front of libertarian crowd in New York City ([link removed])
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By changing more minds than the opposition, Dr. Kevin Sabet won the the Soho Forum debate, a series held in Manhattan and a project of the Reason Foundation. Dr. Sabet convinced a vastly larger part of the audience that Oregon's decrim law, Measure 110, was ultimately a failure and a cautionary tale for other states considering the policy. Click here to watch. ([link removed])

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** Moment of Truth: Luke Niforatos talks legalization, the dangers of modern weed, and more ([link removed])
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SAM Executive Vice President Luke Niforatos was a guest on American Moment’s Moment of Truth podcast to discuss the aims and plans of the legalizers and the new threats we face. Click here to watch ([link removed]) .

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** Kevin provided the keynote speech for the NAADAC conference in Seattle ([link removed])
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Dr. Sabet thanked the addiction counselors present for their important work and spread awareness for the harms of marijuana and kratom they need to speak up about—now more than ever—as Big Weed keeps up the pressure.

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** Car-crash autopsies expose weed’s deadly risk (New York Post) ([link removed])
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Kevin penned an op-ed on marijuana’s underappreciated impact on road safety. He spotlights a study which showed that two out of every five drivers killed in crashes had marijuana in their system. An additional piece in The Drug Report ([link removed]) comments further on this topic.

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** Webinar: One Nation Under the Influence with Dr. Kevin Sabet and Marcia Lee Taylor ([link removed])
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Over 500 people joined our latest SAM webinar, One Nation Under the Influence, with Dr. Kevin Sabet and SAM Senior Advisor Marcia Lee Taylor. Kevin sat down with the former head of the Partnership to End Addiction to discuss his upcoming book, which uses his multifaceted perspective spanning White House advising to grassroots advocacy to chart a way out of America’s ongoing drug crises. Click here to watch ([link removed]) .

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Kevin Sabet and Luke Niforatos journeyed to Istanbul for the 6th Istanbul Initiative Summit ([link removed]) . The summit convenes anti-drug NGO leaders from around the world to discuss local and global advocacy for prevention and recovery efforts writ large.
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Kevin also attended the Afri-Asia Drug Prevention and Treatment Summit ([link removed]) in Nairobi, Kenya. The summit aims to strengthen cross-regional collaboration between Africa and Asia to go “from policy to practice” and reduce drug demand across continents and unveiled the Nairobi Declaration, a set of principles aimed at massive demand reduction.


** In the News
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Is marijuana legalization causing psychosis? (UnHerd) ([link removed]) : Dr. Kevin Sabet highlighted a study that shows marijuana use increased among people with psychosis by 10% after marijuana legalization and discusses the ramifications.
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Former Presidential drug policy advisor speaks on marijuana facts, myths in Elkhart (WSBT) ([link removed]) : Dr. Sabet joined a local drug-free coalition to educate people about the harms and benefits of marijuana.


** Legislative Update
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Thirty-nine State Attorneys General sent a letter to Congress ([link removed]) demanding that lawmakers close the hemp loophole by banning intoxicating THC products. The letter noted that Congress meant to only legalize industrial hemp, "while leaving in place the vital and longstanding prohibition on the use of cannabis products.”

NAAG Hemp Letter to Congress ([link removed])

Take action: ([link removed]) Urge your members of Congress to support closing the hemp loophole, which has allowed for the sale of “gas station marijuana,” or hemp-derived THC, to kids across the country. Ask them to stand with the 39 State AGs who sent Congress a letter in October urging them to close the loophole! Tell Congress to Close the Hemp Loophole Now! ([link removed])


** State Updates
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Pennsylvania: Lawmakers are currently reviewing multiple marijuana-related bills. Senate Bill 49 would establish a Cannabis Control Board in the state and, among other things, help create a fund to subsidize medical marijuana use among Pennsylvanians.

Wisconsin: Lawmakers recently introduced Senate Bill 534 to legalize medical marijuana statewide. The bill is now with the Committee on Health and awaiting a vote.


** Grassroots
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This month, PAN honors Red Ribbon Week ([link removed]) by sharing the stories of our courageous families whose loved ones have been negatively impacted by today’s marijuana and high-potency THC products. You can see these stories on our social media pages and in this month’s issue of the PAN newsletter ([link removed]) .

This message is reflected in PAN’s most recent Fortitude episodes. We were honored to speak with veteran advocate, Sally Schindel ([link removed]) , who shared details she hadn’t shared before on the loss of her son, Andy, an army veteran. Andy died by suicide while suffering from cannabis-induced psychosis. We are also grateful for two Pennsylvania moms, Monica D. ([link removed]) and Jen Kelchner ([link removed]) , who shared the devastating impacts that medical marijuana use had on their sons, and their families. Please take some time to learn more by listening to these three podcasts ([link removed]) and sharing them with others who may benefit from hearing
them.

Earlier this month, PAN Director Crissy Groenewegen was a guest at Victoria’s Voice’s ([link removed]) Save Our Kids Summit in Orlando, Florida. She and other professionals participated in a conversation on the addiction-for-profit industry and how families can protect their loved ones from it.

PAN continues to welcome new parents and families into the network, training them to advocate effectively and supporting them as they advocate in their own communities. In addition to training our families, we continue to connect families with each other to provide support and shared experiences, helping them to understand that they are not alone and that together they can change minds.


Be sure to visit the PAN pages on Smart Approaches to Marijuana ([link removed]) and Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions ([link removed]) to find valuable resources, articles, newsletters, and webinars. You can sign up for our newsletter and alerts here ([link removed]) .


** Events and Trainings
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The 2026 SAM Good Drug Policy Summit will be taking place in partnership with the CADCA National Leadership Forum on February 5th and 6th in National Harbor, MD.


Registration for the Summit is now open. This can’t-miss event will feature the best in evidence-based drug policy and will run from the afternoon of Thursday, February 5 through Friday, February 6. Click here to register ([link removed]) . ([link removed])


Contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to learn about how you can get involved as a sponsor or speaker.

Pan Director, Crissy Groenewegen, was in Orlando, FL speaking at the Save our Kids Forum hosted by Victoria’s Voice Foundation.

SAM President & CEO, Dr. Kevin Sabet, provided a keynote presentation in Indiana at the Get Up to Speed workshops hosted by the Elkhart County Drug-Free Partnership.

SAM Executive VP, Luke Niforatos, presented a lecture for American Moment’s AMFridays in Washington, DC.

Federal and State Policy Associate, Iman Lohrasbi, provided a presentation at The Essential Summit ([link removed]) [link removed] by the Center for Christian Virtue’s Annual Conference in Columbus, OH.

Dr. Kevin Sabet provided the closing remarks and plenary at the Addiction Professionals of North Carolina 2025 Fall Conference in Atlantic Beach, NC.


** Stat of the Month
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** Expectant moms with CUD hurt their kids’ mental health. ([link removed])
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Children of mothers who had cannabis use disorder while pregnant are 79% more likely to have any anxiety disorder and 146% more likely to specifically have PTSD.


** Resource
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The Drug Report ([link removed]) is America’s premier source of news about our drug crisis, its effects on public health and public safety, the state of science around addiction and recovery, and the best ways communities and families can fight back against Addiction, Inc. The Report is brought to you by The Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions and Smart Approaches to Marijuana. We publish news analysis, personal testimonies of people and families hurt by drugs, scientific commentary, in-depth factual resources, and much more. Find The Drug Report here ([link removed]) .


** Donate ([link removed])
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SAM will continue to stand firmly against marijuana legalization and normalization. This week, The Baltimore Sun ([link removed]) reported that marijuana use among drivers on Maryland roads has doubled since the state legalized; early signs indicate crash and fatality risks may be rising as a result. The push to expand access is moving quickly, even as the dangers become more evident. SAM remains committed to ensuring that science and safety come before marijuana industry profits. Your support ([link removed]) today helps us continue this vital work.

Make your gift to SAM and stand firm against marijuana legalization and normalization today! ([link removed])

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** Dr. Kevin Sabet’s new book, One Nation Under the Influence: America’s Drug Habit and How We Can Overcome It ([link removed]'ve%20been%20waiting%20for.) , officially launches November 11!
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This book looks at the drug crisis as a whole and is a call to action for parents, policymakers, and communities to adopt a science-backed, public health-first approach to drug policy. We are facing an undeniable national catastrophe, with more than 105,000 Americans dying of drug overdoses in 2023 alone. Clearly, we need bold new policies rather than mere Band-Aids to address this crisis.

If you are committed to fighting drug addiction and advocating for effective, science-based drug policies, please consider preordering ([link removed]) . Remember to use promo code SAB30 for 30% off!

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