Why We Need to Take Them Seriously

I’ve spent the better part of the last few weeks listening to SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana). And I have a confession: I’ve been working really hard to not scream at my computer screen and call them “stupid” or “dumb.”

Because they aren’t.

If we’re going to survive what’s coming, we have to stop underestimating them. Founded in 2013 by Dr. Kevin Sabet, former Congressman Patrick Kennedy, and David Frum, SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana) is not just a bunch of folks shouting at clouds. They are a well-oiled, highly effective machine. Dr. Sabet, an advisor to three separate White House administrations, is the undisputed heavyweight champion of anti-legalization rhetoric. He knows exactly how to frame his arguments to make “Big Tobacco” comparisons stick and how to pivot to “protecting the children” the second he feels the ground shifting under his feet.

They are incredibly skilled at the art of manipulation. They are professional, they are polished, and with a $20 million war chest, they are dangerous. This isn’t a debate you win by calling your opponent an idiot; it’s a fight you win by acknowledging they are a formidable foe who has spent decades shaping—and arguably breaking—drug policy both at home and abroad.

The Elephant in the Room (And the Funding in the Dark)

SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana) and its 501(c)(4) advocacy arm, “SAM Action,” are masters of the narrative. But here’s the kicker: because of that (c)(4) status, they don’t have to disclose who is funding their multi-million dollar crusade. They love to point fingers at “Big Cannabis,” while conveniently ignoring the massive, anonymous dark money they bring to the table.

They argue that we are the problem. I argue that after ten years of a legal market, the proof is in the pudding.

We’ve seen life-changing medical advancements—like the FDA-approved treatments for childhood epilepsy that were directly birthed from the grassroots work of people like the Figi family and Rick Simpson. Beyond that, the industry has evolved into a hub of innovation: we now have pharmaceutical-grade cannabis inhalers that deliver precise, metered doses; the incredible artistry of solventless extraction; and a sophisticated array of effect-based edibles and tinctures, all produced in clean, safe, and strictly regulated environments. We’ve seen the creation of 25,000 jobs in Massachusetts alone. We’ve seen billions in tax revenue that help support our communities during some of the most economically trying times in recent history.

Let’s Talk About “The Children”

SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana) loves to pull the adolescent-use card. It’s their favorite weapon. And look, I agree: the developing mind is something we should protect. But if we are going to have an honest, deep-dive conversation about the well-being of our youth, then let’s get actually serious.

If we are terrified of potential cognitive impacts, why aren’t we having the same high-intensity, national-level policy debates about youth tackle football and closed-head traumas? Why aren’t we having this same moral panic about military enlistment ages?

If we want to get real, let’s get real. But legislating personal morality inside someone else’s home has always been a gross infringement on autonomy, regardless of the ideology behind it. As adults, we regulate ourselves. We don’t dismantle entire industries—and the livelihoods of thousands of family-owned businesses—because we are afraid of the prospect of adolescent rule-breaking. That’s not policy; that’s moral grandstanding.

The “Drug War” Hangover

For decades, the ideology that SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana) promotes has informed foreign policy that has decimated regions of South America and contributed to one of the most painful humanitarian crises at our southern border. Meanwhile, the tide is turning elsewhere—we are seeing incredible, evidence-based results with psychedelics like Ibogaine for mental health, proving that the old “drug war” playbook isn’t just outdated; it’s a failure.

SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana) has it backward. They want to drag us back to a failed past, while we are busy building a future that prioritizes bodily autonomy, safe testing, and economic growth for our neighbors. We are unlocking the therapeutic potential of the plant—from CBD-derived epilepsy treatments to targeted cannabinoid research—that was once stifled by prohibition, proving that real science, not fear-based dogma, is the true key to public health.

The Fight Continues

This year marks the anniversary of our Revolutionary War. It’s a bit of a cliché, I know, but fitting—the fight for freedom is exhausting, and trust me, after decades of being in the trenches, I am tired. But there is too much on the line to walk away now.

We have 25,000 jobs to protect. We have thousands of small, family-owned businesses that have poured their life savings into this industry. We have a community that is better off with regulation than with the black-market chaos that SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana)’s policies would invite back in.

They have the money, the suits, and the political polish. But we have the truth, we have the community, and we have the results. They might have a $20 million war chest, but Massachusetts has the grit. Let’s get to work.

You can follow more on this topic on our blog, or watch Chris and Jason talk about it at length on their podcast.