Smokescreen: What the Marijuana Industry Doesn't Want You to Know
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- Create Date：2021-04-26 20:32:53
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Kevin A. Sabet
- ISBN：1948677873
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Summary
From the leading authority on marijuana—a man who has served as White House advisor on drugs to three different administrations and who NBC News once called “the prodigy of drug politics"—comes the remarkable and shocking exposé about how 21st century pot， today’s new and highly potent form of the drug， is on the rise， spreading rapidly across America by an industry intent on putting rising profits over public health。
Smokescreen: What the Marijuana Industry Doesn't Want You to Know examines the inside story behind the headlines， containing accounts from Sabet’s time in the Obama administration to stunning revelations from whistleblowers speaking out for the first time。 What it finds is how the marijuana industry is running rampant without proper oversight， leaving Americans’ health seriously at risk。
Included are interviews with industry insiders who reveal the hidden dangers of a product they had once worshipped。
Also contained in these pages are insights from a major underground-market dealer who admits that legalization is hastening the growth of the illicit drug trade。
And more to the heart of the issue are the tragic stories of those who have suffered and died as a result of marijuana use， and in many cases， as a result of its mischaracterization。 Readers will learn how power brokers worked behind the scenes to market marijuana as a miracle plant in order to help it gain widespread acceptance and to set the stage for the lucrative expansion of recreational pot。
The author of this compelling first-person narrative leading the national fight against the legalization of cannabis through his nonprofit， Smart Approaches to Marijuana （aka SAM） is Kevin Sabet。 As a policy advisor to everyone from county health commissioners to Pope Francis， and a frequent public speaker on television， radio and through other media outlets， his analysis is consistently relied upon by those who recognize what’s at stake as marijuana lobbyists downplay the risks of massive commercialization。
A book several years in the making， filled with vivid characters and informed by hundreds of interviews and scores of confidential documents， Sabet's Smokescreen lays bare the unvarnished truth about marijuana in America。
Smokescreen: What the Marijuana Industry Doesn't Want You to Know examines the inside story behind the headlines， containing accounts from Sabet’s time in the Obama administration to stunning revelations from whistleblowers speaking out for the first time。 What it finds is how the marijuana industry is running rampant without proper oversight， leaving Americans’ health seriously at risk。
Included are interviews with industry insiders who reveal the hidden dangers of a product they had once worshipped。
Also contained in these pages are insights from a major underground-market dealer who admits that legalization is hastening the growth of the illicit drug trade。
And more to the heart of the issue are the tragic stories of those who have suffered and died as a result of marijuana use， and in many cases， as a result of its mischaracterization。 Readers will learn how power brokers worked behind the scenes to market marijuana as a miracle plant in order to help it gain widespread acceptance and to set the stage for the lucrative expansion of recreational pot。
The author of this compelling first-person narrative leading the national fight against the legalization of cannabis through his nonprofit， Smart Approaches to Marijuana （aka SAM） is Kevin Sabet。 As a policy advisor to everyone from county health commissioners to Pope Francis， and a frequent public speaker on television， radio and through other media outlets， his analysis is consistently relied upon by those who recognize what’s at stake as marijuana lobbyists downplay the risks of massive commercialization。
A book several years in the making， filled with vivid characters and informed by hundreds of interviews and scores of confidential documents， Sabet's Smokescreen lays bare the unvarnished truth about marijuana in America。
Reviews
Marjorie McGuire
，
Thank you to Dr。 Sabet for this highly readable， important volume。 His narrative includes history and facts punctuated with personal stories by users， victims， and even former employees of the marijuana industry。 Frightening to read of the incremental approach being used by Big Marijuana to eventually reach legalization of ALL drugs。 Something also touched on which I was not really aware of is the environmental impact of growing pot。 The more I read， the more disgusting the allure of the almight Thank you to Dr。 Sabet for this highly readable， important volume。 His narrative includes history and facts punctuated with personal stories by users， victims， and even former employees of the marijuana industry。 Frightening to read of the incremental approach being used by Big Marijuana to eventually reach legalization of ALL drugs。 Something also touched on which I was not really aware of is the environmental impact of growing pot。 The more I read， the more disgusting the allure of the almighty dollar became。 At what cost to our children and grandchildren？*Thanks to Sally for helping Andy help others。* 。。。more
Kanchan Reddy
，
As a mother whose son died due to marijuana， I would highly recommend that all parents， teachers， medical professionals read this excellent book on the harms of this industry！
Illona Mager
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 This book is well written and difficult to put down。 Anyone living in a State that has legalized the use of marijuana and production of substances derived from marijuana for medical and/or recreational use should read this book。 Kevin Sabet describes the deplorable conditions in marijuana cultivation centers， forcing worker exposure to pesticides， toxic chemicals and poisons to the calculated advertising of marijuana as beneficial to health。 The book contains interviews with a drug kingpin descr This book is well written and difficult to put down。 Anyone living in a State that has legalized the use of marijuana and production of substances derived from marijuana for medical and/or recreational use should read this book。 Kevin Sabet describes the deplorable conditions in marijuana cultivation centers， forcing worker exposure to pesticides， toxic chemicals and poisons to the calculated advertising of marijuana as beneficial to health。 The book contains interviews with a drug kingpin describing how both the legal and illegal sale of marijuana coexist， raking in thousands of dollars a day。 The book includes the heart breaking stories of lives lost due to marijuana use and explains why there should be concern over the extremely high THC level products being sold。 。 If you have children， if you are concerned about public health and safety， if you are concerned about the future， Smokescreen is a must read。 。。。more
Bridget
，
From the horrifying opening story in Smokescreen involving young children， it is clear that this is a must read for anyone who wants to know just how pro pot policies are destroying real life people who are just collateral damage in an industry's quest for bigger profits。Sabet has an easy-to-read style that is a harsh juxtaposition with the material， which is the absolutely overwhelming narrative that the American people have been had。 Pro pot policies have nothing to do with allowing people who From the horrifying opening story in Smokescreen involving young children， it is clear that this is a must read for anyone who wants to know just how pro pot policies are destroying real life people who are just collateral damage in an industry's quest for bigger profits。Sabet has an easy-to-read style that is a harsh juxtaposition with the material， which is the absolutely overwhelming narrative that the American people have been had。 Pro pot policies have nothing to do with allowing people who want to use their "freedom" or their "rights"; it has nothing to do with racial justice; it hasn't ever and won't ever save a state budget。。。the list of false promises goes on and on。 All of those promises are code for one thing in this industry--making money。 That's all this industry is about， and it will sacrifice who it has to （Andy Zorn， Peyton Knowlton， Elizabeth Kemble， Johnny Stack。。。the list goes on and on and on） on its way to those monster profits fed by addiction and loss。It is easy for the pot industry to want to dismiss Sabet， but it is almost impossible for them to do so--he knows of what he speaks。 A former drug policy advisor in the Clinton， Bush and Obama administrations， he is well versed in this subject and has the credibility。 If you read a book to understand why so many are waking up to the toll this industry is taking on our communities， make it this one。 。。。more
Sue Rusche
，
The brilliant Kevin Sabet， PhD， founder of SAM （Smart Approaches to Marijuana） and former White House Office of National Drug Control Policy advisor to three different Presidential administrations， has written a brilliant book。 Smokescreen: What the Marijuana Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know is not only a revelatory tale about how the legal marijuana industry is behaving exactly like its predecessor， Big Tobacco， but also an exploration of how marijuana use damages so many people。 In addition t The brilliant Kevin Sabet， PhD， founder of SAM （Smart Approaches to Marijuana） and former White House Office of National Drug Control Policy advisor to three different Presidential administrations， has written a brilliant book。 Smokescreen: What the Marijuana Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know is not only a revelatory tale about how the legal marijuana industry is behaving exactly like its predecessor， Big Tobacco， but also an exploration of how marijuana use damages so many people。 In addition to his skill as an academic writer， he also is a born storyteller。 His descriptions of mothers who have lost children to marijuana psychoses are heart rending。 His interview with a former budtender who worked in a Massachusetts dispensary and got an insider’s view of how far apart reality is from hype is horrendous。 And his story of how a couple in California organized their community to reject the pot business is inspiring。 Sabet makes it clear that legalization is all about money。 Forget public health。 Forget kids’ health。 Forget road safety。 Forget the goal of reaching one’s potential。 Every American should read this book。 If they do， legalization won’t last long as people learn what the marijuana industry is really up to and why it is critical to end the commercialization of yet another addictive drug。 。。。more
Cynthia Shifler
，
To be honest， I have not had the time to read the book yet but I will read it。 One， I believe in SAM's Vision and Mission。 Two， if you understand the Tobacco Industry， then you understand the Marijuana Industry。 It is all about the money， nothing more。 Do they care about our safety or health？ No， they are selling a product。 When people sell a product they do not care about you or I - they care about the bottom line。 There is little difference between the Marijuana Industry and a drug dealer。 Bot To be honest， I have not had the time to read the book yet but I will read it。 One， I believe in SAM's Vision and Mission。 Two， if you understand the Tobacco Industry， then you understand the Marijuana Industry。 It is all about the money， nothing more。 Do they care about our safety or health？ No， they are selling a product。 When people sell a product they do not care about you or I - they care about the bottom line。 There is little difference between the Marijuana Industry and a drug dealer。 Both are doing the same thing - selling a product。 Some may think the the Marijuana product is safer the the drugs on the street but is it？ Do we know what we are buying？Kevin Sabet does his research and interviewed numerous people in the industry。 If you want to find out what is really going on， read Smokescreen！ 。。。more
Sharon Southard
，
I've had the opportunity to receive an early copy of Kevin Sabet's new book Smokescreen。 It is a book very dear to my heart as I lost my son to marijuana induced psychosis， and I will do whatever I can to let people know about the possible dangers it can cause。 This book is very informative， and I highly recommend it。 It will be available on April 20， but you can pre-order it now。 I've had the opportunity to receive an early copy of Kevin Sabet's new book Smokescreen。 It is a book very dear to my heart as I lost my son to marijuana induced psychosis， and I will do whatever I can to let people know about the possible dangers it can cause。 This book is very informative， and I highly recommend it。 It will be available on April 20， but you can pre-order it now。 。。。more
Maggie Ballard
，
This well-written， organized account of what the marijuana industry has done needs to be read and considered by every single policy maker and ballot voter， before casting their vote for another Big Tobacco。
Betsy Jones
，
Smokescreen is beautifully written and impeccably researched， which is exactly what we’ve come to expect from Kevin Sabet。 Kevin’s is the sanest voice in the national debate on marijuana， cutting through the irrational white noise from industry zealots。 Like Quinones’s Dreamland， Smokescreen is a perfect storm of history， culture， politics， science， and heartbreak。 It should be required reading for all state legislators。
Dan Bartkowiak
，
Kevin Sabet has put together an outstanding book that is a must-read for anyone concerned about the issues surrounding marijuana。 While it's important to show the latest studies and data on the impact of today's highly potent marijuana - which this book does include - it's also important to share specific stories of how individuals are being harmed by this drug， which this book includes as well。 That's what truly drives home the book's overall narrative and value in a way that's unparalleled。 Ea Kevin Sabet has put together an outstanding book that is a must-read for anyone concerned about the issues surrounding marijuana。 While it's important to show the latest studies and data on the impact of today's highly potent marijuana - which this book does include - it's also important to share specific stories of how individuals are being harmed by this drug， which this book includes as well。 That's what truly drives home the book's overall narrative and value in a way that's unparalleled。 Each chapter helps keep the reader interested in reading more。 This is the best book I've read on the reality of today's marijuana and truly illuminates the truths behind what is all too often covered up。 I recommend Smokescreen wholeheartedly - it could not have come out at a better time。 。。。more
Mike W
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Kevin does a great job articulating how the marijuana industry is deceiving the general public into believing marijuana is a harmless plant。 They follow the same playbook that the tobacco industry utilized to recruit new users at a young age so they have a lifetime revenue source。 If you want the truth about marijuana instead of the political soundbites， then read Kevin's book。 It's an eye opener for sure Kevin does a great job articulating how the marijuana industry is deceiving the general public into believing marijuana is a harmless plant。 They follow the same playbook that the tobacco industry utilized to recruit new users at a young age so they have a lifetime revenue source。 If you want the truth about marijuana instead of the political soundbites， then read Kevin's book。 It's an eye opener for sure 。。。more
Tracy
，
This book is eye-opening and a MUST read for parents， teachers， law enforcement， community leaders and anyone who believes that marijuana is no big deal。 The personal stories are raw and moving， and the data is alarming。 I learned a lot - this book should be required reading for every teen！
George Spicka
，
As someone who’s experienced a marijuana induced psychosis， and as a result has suffered the after-effects of unrelenting mental illness for decades， I have a special interest in Kevin Sabet’s book， “Smokescreen - What the Marijuana industry Doesn’t Want You To Know。”Around 2014， as the recreational legalization movement was gaining momentum， I begin my own investigation into what many were saying was a “harmless” substance that cured all kinds of conditions - vs。 what research and stories in th As someone who’s experienced a marijuana induced psychosis， and as a result has suffered the after-effects of unrelenting mental illness for decades， I have a special interest in Kevin Sabet’s book， “Smokescreen - What the Marijuana industry Doesn’t Want You To Know。”Around 2014， as the recreational legalization movement was gaining momentum， I begin my own investigation into what many were saying was a “harmless” substance that cured all kinds of conditions - vs。 what research and stories in the media were indicating。I found out for example， that major health organizations were already issuing warnings about marijuana’s dangers as far back as 2000， and that as far back as the 1970s， pediatricians observed that pregnant woman who used marijuana were giving birth to babies with anomalies to areas of the brain concerned with logic， reasoning， and critical thinking。In far greater detail， Smokescreen， in its nineteen chapters， covers all this and much more。Most sad for me was discovering all the grieving mom’s and parents， in fact whole groups of them， who’d lost loved ones， as a direct result of marijuana。Most disturbing was my direct contact with the marijuana lobby， who summarily denigrate grieving parents - and in fact anyone who points out the very real dangers of marijuana， as being “obstructive， lying prohibitionists。” （Marijuana Policy Project）The marijuana lobby justifies this with the accusation: “Your Government is Lying To You （Again） About Marijuana” （NORML）That would include U。S。 Surgeon General Jerome Adams， the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention， and the National Institutes of Health （which includes the National Library of Medicine）， all which have data and who have issued warnings about marijuana’s risks， especially to pregnant women and adolescents。Then to fill the gap， they provide their own “Medical Research Library” （NORML）， a collection of assumptions， misinformation， distorted facts， denigrations， and half-truths， whose nefarious intent is clearly transparent to the educated， unbiased person。Upon investigating the document， “Recent Medical Marijuana Research” （NORML）， I’ve so far discovered that five of the “Emerging Clinical Applications For Cannabis & Cannabinoids” were either refuted， denied or listed risks by health organizations representing those ailments。What frightens me most， is the realization of just how much politicians and businessmen are compromising the mental and physical health of this nation’s youth， for the sake of huge profits - profits that make those of the tobacco industry in its heyday seem small by comparison。This is a cruel recklessness that’s completely devoid of any sense of human decency， an effort at encouraging a slavery to addiction in order to guarantee future profits - It is something that unless stood up to and halted now， will effect our nation for decades to come in the future。If you take away anything from Smokescreen， let it be a sense of urgency for Americans to not only become fully aware of this horrid deception by the marijuana industry， but in order to protect our nation’s youth from this virulent， deliberate campaign of misinformation， the necessity of informing ever legislator， politician， and media person， with what you’ve learned。Smokescreen is a must-read book that every parent， health professional， legislator， politician， media person， or anyone concerned about the future of our nation needs to read。“I have a 15， a 13， and a 9-year old， and I absolutely as a physician， as a dad， as the Surgeon General of the United States， wouldn’t want them exposed to these products （marijuana）， and wouldn’t want them to falsely believe they’re safe。” - Dr。 Jerome Adams， U。S。 Surgeon General 。。。more
Michelle
，
THIS BOOK IS SO IMPORTANT- as the author shares， "why as a nation should we rush headlong into legalizing highly potent THC products without understanding the consequences？"。。。it is not just the direct health dangers we need to be worried about。"It’s the calamity of mismanagement in pot shops where customers are given the wrong dosage" Among TOO MANY other reasons that are spelled out with hundreds of supporting footnotes。 So grateful for Kevin Sabet and SAM's important work。 I have been advocat THIS BOOK IS SO IMPORTANT- as the author shares， "why as a nation should we rush headlong into legalizing highly potent THC products without understanding the consequences？"。。。it is not just the direct health dangers we need to be worried about。"It’s the calamity of mismanagement in pot shops where customers are given the wrong dosage" Among TOO MANY other reasons that are spelled out with hundreds of supporting footnotes。 So grateful for Kevin Sabet and SAM's important work。 I have been advocating around the harms to youth brains about today's cannabis for five years， and I thought I knew a lot。 I only knew about the tip of the iceberg - hoping MANY read and learn more through this vital expose of the smokescreen erected by Big Cannabis。 。。。more
Corinne Gasper
，
Smokescreen exposes the misnomers and outright lies about today's marijuana and it's industry。 The stories told are compelling and tell the truth about how marijuana can destroy lives in many ways。 This book is a must-read for everyone， but especially those who are raising a family in today's drug culture which has spread across our entire country。 We should all be thanking him for writing this book and removing the Smokescreen that covers up the sad truth。 Smokescreen exposes the misnomers and outright lies about today's marijuana and it's industry。 The stories told are compelling and tell the truth about how marijuana can destroy lives in many ways。 This book is a must-read for everyone， but especially those who are raising a family in today's drug culture which has spread across our entire country。 We should all be thanking him for writing this book and removing the Smokescreen that covers up the sad truth。 。。。more
Laura Stack
，
Sabet provides a well-rounded perspective of the harms of marijuana use， especially to adolescents， from all aspects of the business。 As a mother who lost her 19-year-old son to suicide resulting from paranoid delusion from using high-potency marijuana concentrates， I'm grateful for Sabet's strong voice and stories from the experts and victims， as well as the research he provides （with 350+ citations）。 This book is a must-read for parents， teachers， coalitions， law enforcement， counselors， and A Sabet provides a well-rounded perspective of the harms of marijuana use， especially to adolescents， from all aspects of the business。 As a mother who lost her 19-year-old son to suicide resulting from paranoid delusion from using high-potency marijuana concentrates， I'm grateful for Sabet's strong voice and stories from the experts and victims， as well as the research he provides （with 350+ citations）。 This book is a must-read for parents， teachers， coalitions， law enforcement， counselors， and ALL adults with young people in their lives who need to understand the latest scientific data on the harms of marijuana， especially for our young people。 You will be alarmed。 After the loss of our son， we formed a nonprofit， Johnny's Ambassadors， to educate parents and teens about the dangers of today's high-THC marijuana on adolescent brain development， mental illness， and suicide。 Sabet's book will be on our must-read list！ 。。。more
Cynthia Funegard
，
As as with all of Kevin's work， the research here is detailed， trustworthy， specific and applicable to the practical challenges that we are facing。 Eye opening， revelatory and highly motivating， one cannot read such comprehensive documentation of the unfolding cannabis culture without some true shock and awe。 Empowered with this knowledge， some clinical and some personal， we are armed with the tools that we need to help inform those at risk。 Whether you are a parent， clinician， recovering person As as with all of Kevin's work， the research here is detailed， trustworthy， specific and applicable to the practical challenges that we are facing。 Eye opening， revelatory and highly motivating， one cannot read such comprehensive documentation of the unfolding cannabis culture without some true shock and awe。 Empowered with this knowledge， some clinical and some personal， we are armed with the tools that we need to help inform those at risk。 Whether you are a parent， clinician， recovering person or other concerned citizen， you deserve the facts and the truth as set forth in this groundbreaking book。 Hiding our heads in the sand will not help this growing problem to vanish or even diminish。 While our culture and society nurture and protect big profit at the expense of the most vulnerable， it is incumbent upon us to educate and inform， prevent and support， and this book shows us exactly what is at risk -and how we might work to help intervene。 Accessible， powerful， motivating， informative and guided by a selfless desire to help our exploited youth， and to guide and protect our families， this book will blow your mind and remove any illusions you have that today's marijuana is in any way safe or therapeutic as advertised。 You will learn who is making the money and at whose expense。 This book dispels myths and corrects misperceptions。 Kevin offers us an accurate view into the world of addiction and many of the drivers， helping us to prepare ourselves and our loved ones to stand up for the health， safety and well-being of our youth and society at large。 Don't miss this one！ 。。。more
Patrice Halverson
，
This book is a wake-up call to all who think marijuana is not addictive or harmful。 It can and has ruined the lives of many of our youth。 It causes damage to the developing brain up to the age of 25 years old。 I was alarmed to see the big money behind the pot industry and who is really profiting from this business。 Big Tobacco has been replaced with Big Pot and they are relentless when it comes to raking in the money。 I don't understand how many lives we will have to lose before this becomes a p This book is a wake-up call to all who think marijuana is not addictive or harmful。 It can and has ruined the lives of many of our youth。 It causes damage to the developing brain up to the age of 25 years old。 I was alarmed to see the big money behind the pot industry and who is really profiting from this business。 Big Tobacco has been replaced with Big Pot and they are relentless when it comes to raking in the money。 I don't understand how many lives we will have to lose before this becomes a problem and starts to get on the radar of dangerous drugs。 I found this book to be very informative and confirmed the ugly truths that I have heard about and witnessed first hand。 This is a must read for anyone with children who may "experiment" with pot。 No one will tell you that your child may end up suffering from a psychotic break or schizophrenia from smoking pot or that they may commit suicide。 It is an eye-opener and shows that this is not the pot from the 60's。 This is a drug to be taken seriously and to take hold of the reins before this wild horse gets away。 We owe it to our children and we owe it to our communities that have to come up with all the extra funding that is needed to take care of all the extra mental health facilities that are needed to come close to addressing the problem that marijuana is causing。 I encourage anyone to read this book if you want to see the truth and not believe what the lobbyists and Big Pot money wants you to believe。 Wake up or get ready to pay the price of not taking action。 I think we should not be as concerned about illegal aliens crossing the US/Mexican border as we should be about the big Mexican drug cartels that we are now letting in for business。 。。。more
Sally
，