Press Releases

Drug policy expert Kevin Sabet weighs in on the platform and campaign promises of leading parties ahead of the 2025 federal election. Click here to listen on CBC

The State of Colorado has issued its first psilocybin license to a healing center in downtown Denver. But not everyone is buying in. Luke Niforatos, chairman of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, believes these healing centers pose a public safety risk. “The idea that we’re just going to let federally illegal corporations grow or produce these products […]

President Donald Trump made history by nominating award-winning investigative reporter Sara Carter to be the first female director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. If confirmed, she will become the administration’s chief spokesperson on drug policy and have statutory control over the whole of the federal government’s drug policy budget, spread across multiple agencies. Carter brings with her a […]

NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre announced Sunday that he will fund centre-based addictions care for 50,000 Canadians if he becomes prime minister. “Now that we’ve lost 50,000 to overdoses the least we can do is, in their honour, save 50,000 more,” said Poilievre, flanked by an entourage of supporters, several in recovery themselves. […]

(FOX40.COM) — State and local elected officials, law enforcement and community leaders came together to celebrate the first 100 days of Prop 36 and discuss their continued efforts to bring the Golden State back into a golden era with fewer crimes and better drug addiction treatment. The proposition, which was overwhelmingly approved by California voters, allows for felony charges and […]

(FoxNews.com) President Donald Trump’s newly issued statement on drug policy priorities shows his administration has embraced the Make America Healthy Again movement as it tackles American’s top public health crisis: addiction. The next step must be to re-empower the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), elevating America’s anti-drug movement to the prominence it […]

(New York) I addressed the United Nations‘ 68th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs last week. My message was simple: Nations must reaffirm their commitment to discouraging drug use and promoting health and safety, in accord with the long-standing principles established under the three international drug policy conventions. Amid calls for radical reform and the legalization of […]

FDPS Commends Mayor Lurie’s Decision to Rethink Harm Reduction Measures After Pleas from Recovery Community  (SAN FRANCISCO, CA)—The Foundation for Drug Policy Solution (FDPS) President Dr. Kevin Sabet, a three-time White House drug policy advisor, released the following statement in response to San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s recent Executive Directive to address the intertwined and ongoing crises […]

Pot Profiteers Seek Future Generations Hooked on Addiction to Fuel Corporate Profits (VIENNA, AUSTRIA) – As nations around the world continue to deal with the repercussions of the addiction industry’s efforts to inject more dangerous, psychoactive drugs into populations, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS) President Dr. Kevin Sabet heads to the 68th Session […]

(WASHINGTON, DC) – With the new Trump Administration taking shape,Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS) brought together Members of Congress, parents, medical professionals, law enforcement, former White House drug policy officials, and other experts in Washington for a two-day conference to discuss solutions to the nation’s drug crisis. The conference addressed the state of the drug crisis and how […]

Luke Niforatos on “The Poisoning” Podcast.  View the episode HERE.

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS) President Dr. Kevin Sabet, a three-time White House drug policy advisor, released the following statement today upon the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as the 47th President of the United States of America:  “In November, voters across red and blue states rejected the legalization of drugs like marijuana […]

(ARUSHA, TANZANIA) – As leaders from dozens of members countries convene at the African Union’s Continental Consultation on Drug Demand, international drug policy experts from Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS) are sharing the evidence surrounding drug policy in the arena of demand and supply reduction, as well as the pitfalls of […]

In her article, Kat Rosenfield regrettably fails to outline the significant harms posed by psychedelic drugs. For many, using psychedelics is a nightmarish experience, not a pleasurable one. According to a 2023 study, 41 percent of psychedelic users reported having challenging experiences. This isn’t surprising: Negative side effects from psychedelics are well-documented. Psilocybin is known to […]

Voters across the nation last week dealt a decisive blow to the reckless movement to legalize and normalize drugs. In blue and red states, voters rejected these industry-backed proposals, favoring policies that prioritize public health and safety. The mandate is clear: To treat the drug crisis, we should invest in prevention and increase access to treatment, not increase access to […]

Four ballot measures fail to legalize marijuana, psychedelics  (WASHINGTON, DC) –  Voters across the United States, in both Republican and Democratic states, rejected soundly the legalization of marijuana and psychedelics despite pro-drug campaigns outspending opponents by more than 20 to 1.   Florida voters rejected the corporate-drafted Amendment 3 which would’ve legalized recreational marijuana in the […]

(WASHINGTON, DC) – According to multiple media outlets, former president Donald J. Trump is expected to have secured the 270 Electoral College votes necessary to become the 47th President of the United States. Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS) and Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) President and CEO Dr. Kevin Sabet, a former drug policy advisor to Presidents Obama, Bush, and Clinton, […]

Massachusetts Communities Reject Drug Profiteers’ Latest Push for Psychedelics (BOSTON, MA) – Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS) President Dr. Kevin Sabet, a former White House drug policy advisor to President Obama, released the following statement today after Massachusetts voted to reject Question 4, which would have legalized for-profit psychedelic centers and the growth and distribution of […]

Opinion: Mandated care ensures that people remain in treatment and don’t drop out, which is consistently shown to be one of the best predictors of a successful outcome In a remarkable turn of events, B.C. Premier David Eby announced last month that the government will support 400 or more beds — the term $1 billion […]

Proposition 36 qualified for the November ballot in California with over 900,000 signatures. Simply put, this ballot initiative will reform aspects of Proposition 47 that in 2014 reclassified several “quality of life” crimes as misdemeanors instead of felonies. The most obvious was shoplifting — where the threshold for misdemeanor theft was raised to $950 per offense — and drug possession. […]

A coalition of elected officials from across British Columbia gathered Monday to demand “urgent action” from the federal government on issues of public safety, mental health and drug addictions – including funding for the province’s planned expansion of involuntary care(opens in a new tab). Speaking outside Vancouver city hall, the group also reiterated calls for further […]

Nearly two weeks after brutal attacks left one person dead and another with a severed hand, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is among the municipal leaders speaking out, asking for action from the federal government on safety and other issues through a new coalition. Sim addressed reporters on Monday morning, condemning the current state of public […]

(VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA) – Today, Dr. Kevin Sabet will join Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, and First Nations leaders, public health experts, and law enforcement officials and mayors from across British Columbia to demand urgent action from the federal government to tackle the public safety and the mental health and addictions crisis affecting Vancouver and municipalities throughout […]

Marijuana, Psychedelics, Other Drugs Fuel Suicide Rates Across the U.S. (WASHINGTON, DC) – As the nation gathers to spread a powerful reminder that nearly 50,000 Americans die by suicide annually, making it 11th leading cause of death, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS) President and CEO Dr. Kevin Sabet is using National Suicide Prevention Week […]