Historian and author David T. Courtwright joins Kevin Sabet on High Stakes to discuss the history of addiction, how bad habits became big business, and his concept of “limbic capitalism," a system in which companies profit by targeting the brain’s pathways for pleasure, motivation, and memory.

Dr. Kevin Sabet sits down with David T. Courtwright, author of *The Age of Addiction: How Bad Habits Became Big Business*, to explore the relationship between commercial interests and addictive behavior. At the center of the conversation is Courtwright’s concept of limbic capitalism and how it helps explain the business of encouraging habitual consumption. Drawing on his research into the history of drugs and addiction, the discussion examines how the pursuit of pleasure became a global commercial enterprise, connecting the history of intoxicating substances with the broader world of gambling, compulsive shopping, and digital entertainment. His work provides a historical framework for understanding how businesses have both responded to and cultivated consumer desires and why those forces matter for conversations about addiction today.

MORE ABOUT DAVID: David T. Courtwright is Presidential Professor Emeritus at the University of North Florida and a historian specializing in drugs and addiction. He has taught medical, U.S., and world history, and his broader research interests include violence, political and policy history, aviation, and frontier environments. His books include The Age of Addiction: How Bad Habits Became Big Business which examines the global rise of limbic capitalism.

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Watch on YouTube: / @smartapproachestomarijuanasam

Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM): https://learnaboutsam.org/

Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS): https://gooddrugpolicy.org/

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High Stakes with Kevin Sabet is a production of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS). The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of SAM or its affiliates. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Daniel Amen, psychiatrist, neuroscientist, bestselling author, and founder of Amen Clinics, joins Kevin Sabet for a new episode of High Stakes with Kevin Sabet, the official podcast of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS).

Dr. Kevin Sabet and Dr. Daniel Amen discuss what decades of brain imaging and clinical practice can teach us about marijuana, mental health, and the brain. Drawing on his experience treating patients and studying tens of thousands of brain scans, Dr. Amen explains why protecting brain health should be at the center of conversations about marijuana use, particularly when it comes to children, teenagers, and young adults.

In the full episode, Kevin and Dr. Amen discuss marijuana’s effects on the developing brain, the relationship between cannabis use and mental health, what brain imaging can reveal about substance use, and why Americans should think more carefully about the choices and habits that affect long-term brain health.

MORE ABOUT DR. DANIEL AMEN: Dr. Daniel Amen is a psychiatrist, neuroscientist, bestselling author, and founder of Amen Clinics. For decades, he has focused his work on brain health and the use of brain imaging in psychiatry. Amen Clinics has built one of the world’s largest databases of functional brain scans related to behavior, and Dr. Amen has authored or co-authored more than 40 books, including Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, The End of Mental Illness, and Raising Mentally Strong Kids. Through his books, television programs, clinical work, and public education, he has become one of the country’s best-known advocates for understanding and protecting the brain.

Subscribe now and stay tuned for future podcast episodes of HIGH STAKES with KEVIN SABET!

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmartApproachestoMarijuanaSAM

Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM): https://learnaboutsam.org/

Follow SAM on X: https://x.com/learnaboutsam

Follow Kevin on X: https://x.com/KevinSabet

Learn more about Kevin Sabet: https://kevinsabet.com/

High Stakes with Kevin Sabet is a production of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS). The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of SAM or its affiliates. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes.

MORE ABOUT KEVIN: Dubbed by NBC News as the “prodigy of drug politics,” Kevin A. Sabet, Ph.D., is an author, advisor to three U.S. presidential administrations, and one of the nation’s leading voices on drug policy. For more than 20 years, he has studied, researched, written about, and helped shape drug policy in the United States and abroad. He is the President and CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), the nonprofit he co-founded with Congressman Patrick Kennedy and David Frum, and serves as Director of the Drug Policy Institute at the University of Florida.

Dr. Sabet began his government service in the Clinton Administration, later serving in the Bush Administration and returning as a senior advisor in the Obama Administration, where he helped draft the National Drug Control Strategy. He is the author of Reefer Sanity: Seven Great Myths About Marijuana, co-editor of Marijuana and Contemporary Health (Oxford University Press), and a frequent advisor to governments, NGOs, and international organizations, including the United Nations.

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Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX) joins Kevin Sabet for Episode 5 of High Stakes to discuss the growing bipartisan effort to keep marijuana classified as a Schedule I drug, Congress’s move to close the intoxicating hemp loophole, and new legislation aimed at preserving drug testing for safety-sensitive transportation workers if federal marijuana policy changes.

Dr. Kevin Sabet sits down with Congressman Pete Sessions, one of Congress’s leading voices on marijuana policy, to examine the latest developments shaping federal drug policy. In the full episode, Kevin and Congressman Sessions discuss the ongoing debate over marijuana rescheduling, why Congress has repeatedly declined to advance major commercialization efforts such as SAFE Banking, and the role lawmakers are playing in responding to emerging concerns surrounding today’s high-potency THC products. They also explore the recent federal crackdown on intoxicating hemp-derived products, the importance of maintaining drug testing for truck drivers, pilots, and other safety-sensitive employees, and why Congress continues to frame public safety and scientific evidence as central considerations in the national marijuana policy debate.

MORE ABOUT PETE: Congressman Pete Sessions represents Texas’s 17th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Throughout his time in Congress, he has been a leading advocate for maintaining marijuana’s Schedule I status, strengthening oversight of intoxicating hemp products, and advancing legislation focused on public safety, workplace drug testing, and substance use policy. He has led multiple congressional letters opposing marijuana rescheduling and has been a prominent voice in debates surrounding federal drug policy.

Subscribe now and stay tuned for future podcast episodes of HIGH STAKES with KEVIN SABET!

Watch on YouTube: / @smartapproachestomarijuanasam

Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM): https://learnaboutsam.org/

Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS): https://gooddrugpolicy.org/

Follow SAM on X: https://x.com/learnaboutsam

Follow Kevin on X: https://x.com/KevinSabet

Learn more about Kevin A. Sabet: https://kevinsabet.com/

High Stakes with Kevin Sabet is a production of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS). The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of SAM or its affiliates. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following President Trump’s recent executive order on psychedelics—reportedly prompted by a conversation with Joe Rogan—the conversation examines the science, politics, and public narratives driving one of the most consequential drug policy debates in America today.

Paul Chabot and Frank Greenagel join Kevin Sabet for Episode 3 of High Stakes to discuss the growing push to fast-track psychedelic drugs as treatments for PTSD, addiction, and other mental health conditions. Following President Trump’s recent executive order expanding federal support for psychedelic research, the conversation examines the science, politics, and public narratives driving one of the most consequential drug policy debates in America today.

Dr. Kevin Sabet sits down with Iraq War veteran and former White House drug policy advisor Paul Chabot alongside Army veteran, clinical social worker, and Rutgers professor Frank Greenagel to discuss the rapid rise of psychedelics in public policy conversations. In the full episode, Kevin, Paul, and Frank explore the influence of podcast personalities and celebrity advocates on drug policy, concerns about fast-tracking psychedelic treatments before long-term evidence is available, the growing use of veterans and first responders as the public face of psychedelic reform efforts, and the importance of maintaining rigorous scientific standards when evaluating new therapies. They also discuss lessons from marijuana policy, the risks of overselling emerging treatments, and why vulnerable populations deserve careful, evidence-based protections.

MORE ABOUT PAUL: Paul Chabot is a retired U.S. Navy Chief, Iraq War veteran, former senior advisor at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, and former law enforcement officer. Throughout his career, he has worked extensively on issues related to public safety, national security, substance use, and veteran well-being. Drawing on both his professional experience and personal journey with PTSD, Paul remains an advocate for ensuring that veterans receive safe, effective, and evidence-based treatment options.

MORE ABOUT FRANK: Frank Greenagel is a U.S. Army veteran, licensed clinical social worker, professor at Rutgers University, and nationally recognized expert on addiction, recovery, and behavioral health. He has spent years working directly with veterans, first responders, and law enforcement officers struggling with substance use and mental health challenges. Frank frequently consults with organizations across the country on treatment, recovery, and public policy issues related to addiction and behavioral health.

Subscribe now and stay tuned for future podcast episodes of HIGH STAKES with KEVIN SABET!

Watch on YouTube: / @smartapproachestomarijuanasam

Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM): https://learnaboutsam.org/

Follow SAM on X: https://x.com/learnaboutsam

Follow Kevin on X: https://x.com/KevinSabet

Learn more about Kevin A. Sabet: https://kevinsabet.com/

High Stakes with Kevin Sabet is a production of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS). The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of SAM or its affiliates. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heather Bacchus and Eric Burton join Kevin Sabet for Episode 2 of High Stakes with Kevin Sabet, the official podcast of Smart Approaches to Marijuana and the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS).

Dr. Kevin Sabet sits down with author and advocate Heather Bacchus alongside THC, INC filmmaker Eric Burton to discuss the growing public health concerns surrounding today’s high-potency THC products and the cultural normalization of marijuana. In the full episode, Kevin, Heather, and Eric explore the rise of “Big Marijuana,” the science behind high-potency THC and adolescent brain development, the growing disconnect between public perception and emerging evidence, and why families, educators, and policymakers are increasingly sounding the alarm about the risks facing young people today.

MORE ABOUT HEATHER: Heather Bacchus is an author, speaker, and passionate advocate for youth mental health and substance use prevention. Drawing from her journey through loss, resilience, and hope, Heather authored A Higher Love: A Journey Through Addiction, Cannabis-Induced Psychosis, Suicide, and Redemption to highlight the hidden dangers of high-potency cannabis and the devastating impact it can have on youth and their families.​ Heather’s mission is deeply personal. In 2021, she and her family experienced an unimaginable tragedy when her 21-year-old son succumbed to cannabis-induced psychosis and completed suicide. Determined to turn her pain into purpose, Heather raises awareness and educates others about the risks associated with today's highly potent cannabis products.As a professional speaker, Heather shares her heartfelt story backed by scientific evidence and offers actionable strategies for youth prevention. She co-leads Be Extraordinary, Be You with her husband, Randy, inspiring young people to make informed choices about drug use while encouraging them to be extraordinary, embrace their authentic selves, and live chemical-free lives.

MORE ABOUT ERIC: Eric Burton is an award-winning filmmaker and editor whose work spans documentary, scripted, and unscripted formats. His portfolio includes projects for Fifth Season, 35 Ventures, Travel Channel, Discovery, and History Channel, with a consistent focus on stories rooted in social justice and human resilience. His credits include Kiss the Future—produced by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, and winner of three audience awards—as well as THC, INC, a Wayfarer Studios documentary exploring the dangers of high-potency THC on adolescent brains, and My Friend Sam, executive produced by Judd Apatow, which follows Regina Spektor’s cross-generational friendship with a renowned violinist and Romanian Holocaust survivor.

Subscribe now and stay tuned for future podcast episodes of HIGH STAKES with KEVIN SABET!

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmartApproachestoMarijuanaSAM

Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM): https://learnaboutsam.org/

Follow SAM on X: https://x.com/learnaboutsam

Follow Kevin on X: https://x.com/KevinSabet

Learn more about Kevin A. Sabet: https://kevinsabet.com/

High Stakes with Kevin Sabet is a production of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS). The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of SAM or its affiliates. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

German Lopez, Editorial Board Writer at The New York Times, joins Kevin Sabet for the inaugural episode of High Stakes with Kevin Sabet, the official podcast of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS).

Dr. Kevin Sabet and journalist German Lopez discuss the editorial board’s recent "It’s Time for America to Admit That It Has a Marijuana Problem," and the published audio discussion, “Marijuana Is Everywhere. That’s a Problem.” Alongside Emily Bazelon and David Leonhardt, Lopez examined how widespread legalization and commercialization have created new public health challenges that many policymakers and advocates did not anticipate.

In the full episode, Kevin and German discuss what the evidence now shows about marijuana’s growing presence in American life, the unintended consequences of legalization, and why the conversation around regulation, public health, and prevention is evolving.

MORE ABOUT GERMAN LOPEZ: German Lopez is a writer for the editorial board of The New York Times, where he covers a wide range of issues including politics, economics, crime, and public health. He joined the paper in 2021, initially writing for The Morning, and has since reported on subjects ranging from America’s opioid crisis to the war in Ukraine. Before joining The Times, Lopez worked at Vox Media and CityBeat, a local newspaper in Cincinnati, where he covered politics and policy. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, he moved to the United States with his family at age six.

Subscribe now and stay tuned for future podcast episodes of HIGH STAKES with KEVIN SABET!

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmartApproachestoMarijuanaSAM

Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM): https://learnaboutsam.org/

Follow SAM on X: https://x.com/learnaboutsam

Follow Kevin on X: https://x.com/KevinSabet

Learn more about Kevin Sabet: https://kevinsabet.com/

High Stakes with Kevin Sabet is a production of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS). The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of SAM or its affiliates. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes.

MORE ABOUT SAM: Smart Approaches to Marijuana envisions a society where marijuana policies are aligned with the scientific understanding of marijuana’s harms, and the commercialization and normalization of marijuana are no more. SAM is an alliance of organizations and individuals dedicated to a health-first approach to marijuana policy. We are professionals working in mental health and public health. We are bipartisan. We are medical doctors, lawmakers, treatment providers, preventionists, teachers, law enforcement officers and others who seek a middle road between incarceration and legalization. Our commonsense, third-way approach to marijuana policy is based on reputable science and sound principles of public health and safety.

MORE ABOUT KEVIN: Dubbed by NBC News as the “prodigy of drug politics,” Kevin A. Sabet, Ph.D., is an author, advisor to three U.S. presidential administrations, and one of the nation’s leading voices on drug policy. For more than 20 years, he has studied, researched, written about, and helped shape drug policy in the United States and abroad. He is the President and CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), the nonprofit he co-founded with Congressman Patrick Kennedy and David Frum, and serves as Director of the Drug Policy Institute at the University of Florida.

Dr. Sabet began his government service in the Clinton Administration, later serving in the Bush Administration and returning as a senior advisor in the Obama Administration, where he helped draft the National Drug Control Strategy. He is the author of Reefer Sanity: Seven Great Myths About Marijuana, co-editor of Marijuana and Contemporary Health (Oxford University Press), and a frequent advisor to governments, NGOs, and international organizations, including the United Nations.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to High Stakes with Kevin Sabet, the official podcast of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS).

In this short teaser, Dr. Kevin Sabet previews the first full episode of the show, featuring a conversation with New York Times journalist German Lopez about the editorial board’s recent discussion, “Marijuana Is Everywhere. That’s a Problem.”  Alongside Emily Bazelon and David Leonhardt, Lopez examines how widespread legalization and commercialization have created new public health challenges that many policymakers and advocates did not anticipate.

In the upcoming full episode, Kevin and German discuss what the evidence now shows about marijuana’s growing presence in American life, the unintended consequences of legalization, and why the conversation around regulation, public health, and prevention is evolving.

Subscribe now and stay tuned for the full interview.

Learn More

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmartApproachestoMarijuanaSAM

Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM): https://learnaboutsam.org/

Follow SAM on X: https://x.com/learnaboutsam

Follow Kevin on X: https://x.com/KevinSabet

Learn more about Kevin Sabet: https://kevinsabet.com/

Disclaimer

High Stakes with Kevin Sabet is a production of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS). The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of SAM or its affiliates. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.