Americans for Safe Access

MAY 6, 2025

As someone who has been a medical cannabis advocate for over 2 decades, Ive been watching the return of a Trump administration with caution. Many had high hopes for what another term might mean for cannabis. During the 2024 election, Trump expressed support for cannabis rescheduling and patient access, and even said he intended to vote for the legalization measure on the Florida ballot.

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Americans for Safe Access

MARCH 23, 2025

With over 20 years of experience, Ive dedicated my career to advancing cannabis policy and patient rights. One of the most impactful ways we drive change is through direct advocacy. Thats why I am joining ASA members and cannabis advocates across California for the California NORML/Americans for Safe Access Citizen Lobby Day on Monday, March 24, in Sacramento.

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Americans for Safe Access

JULY 4, 2025

Many medical cannabis patients have become accustomed to our second-class status in this country, navigating life decisions through a series of obstacles and hurdles invisible to most. However, 4th of July celebrations, with themes of personal freedoms —Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness are a harsh reminder that we have been left out of those American promises.

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Patients Cannabis 245

Americans for Safe Access

APRIL 28, 2025

People are always amazed when I tell them I have been in the medical cannabis issue for almost 50 years. In August 1975, my late husband, Robert Randall, and I were busted for marijuana cultivation and possession. Thankfully, it was only a misdemeanor charge. We could have paid a fine and been done with it. But there was a complication. Robert had glaucoma, and cannabis was saving his sight.

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Cultivation Cannabis Marijuana Law 219

Americans for Safe Access

JULY 15, 2025

Immediate Release: July 15, 2025 Contact: Steph@safeaccessnow.

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Americans for Safe Access

JULY 14, 2025

Over the weekend, the death of Jamie Garcia—a worker at a state-licensed cannabis cultivation site in Los Angeles—during an ICE raid sent shockwaves through the medical cannabis community. With more than six million patients relying on these programs nationwide, and the majority of U.S. states having legalized medical cannabis in some form, Garcia’s death is more than a tragedy.

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Americans for Safe Access

JULY 9, 2025

ASA's Federal Focus Debrief: Fact, Fiction, & the Fight Cannabis, Hemp, Trump's Budget Bill, the Farm Bill, CJS, & Ag Veterans Appropriations, Oh My! Confused about what is happening in D.C., or how you can plug in? ASA's federal debrief, where we will separate fact from fiction: what are the bills, timelines, and breakdown ASA's campaign strategies to Protect and Expand Safe Access.

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Americans for Safe Access

JUNE 30, 2025

FLOWERY BRANCH, GA – The Georgia Medical Cannabis Society (GMCS), in partnership with Americans for Safe Access and Veterans Initiative 22, will host an Emergency Town Hall TODAY, Monday, June 30, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET at the Hall County Library – Spout Springs Branch. This urgent gathering responds to recent developments in Washington that threaten longstanding federal protections for patients and providers in state medical cannabis programs.

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Americans for Safe Access

JUNE 2, 2025

Every June, the National Safety Council hosts "National Safety Month," encouraging everyone to educate their communities and the public about safety in their respective sectors. Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is proud to participate by launching a comprehensive month-long campaign dedicated to cannabis safety.

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Americans for Safe Access

MARCH 6, 2025

By Nikki Lawley & Oleg Maryasis, MS Medical cannabis patients in New York face unnecessary financial and accessibility barriers that limit their ability to receive the care they need. On March 11, 2025, we invite patients, advocates, healthcare professionals, and concerned citizens to join us in Albany for the Medical Cannabis Lobby Day an opportunity to push for meaningful reforms that will enhance patient access and ensure New Yorks medical cannabis program prioritizes those who rely on it

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Americans for Safe Access

MAY 1, 2025

Thank you to the 200+ folks who joined us last night! For everyone else, here is the recap: In the meeting, we discussed ASA's ZERO tolerance policy on Federal interference in the medical cannabis programs. The CJS amendment means that the states, territories, or the District of Columbia, handle any matters surrounding medical cannabis operators,patients, and caregivers PERIOD.

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Programs Policy Patients Law 147

Americans for Safe Access

JUNE 25, 2025

Federal Medical Cannabis Protections are at Risk, Again! Medical cannabis patients are under threat again. For over a decade, the CJS Amendment has protected patients and caregivers from federal interference. But President Trump’s FY2026 budget proposal removes those protections, putting millions at risk. Congress must act now: keep the amendment and pass comprehensive legislation, such as the Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoid Act (MCCA), to establish a permanent, patient-centered federal program

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Americans for Safe Access

MAY 8, 2025

By now, it is a common refrain: the weed is getting stronger. Recent research backs this up. For example, data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse reveal that the level of THC in cannabis samples seized by law enforcement averaged 4% in 1995. By contrast, in 2022, the average level of THC was upwards of 16%.

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Data THC Cannabis Law 257

Americans for Safe Access

MARCH 12, 2025

While Schedule III may seem like a large deviation from the recommendations provided by HHS and DEA in 2016, outright dismissing the finding of HHS and DOJ, currently accepted medical use does not take into account the enormity of the scientific and medical discoveries that have happened in the time since they were issued as well as the vast societal call for an updated approach to cannabis policy.

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Americans for Safe Access

MAY 14, 2025

If you can join us in DC on May 18th and 19th, please register today ! If you would like to participate in Lobby Day remotely, please complete the form below, and we will deliver your message to your representatives.

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Americans for Safe Access

APRIL 20, 2025

This year marks 23 years since Americans for Safe Access (ASA) first opened its doors, driven by a personal mission and a collective vision to improve lives through medical cannabis. My own journey with therapeutic cannabis inspired the founding of ASA in 2002, and since then, I've witnessed firsthand how patient advocacy can profoundly change healthcare and people's lives.

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Americans for Safe Access

APRIL 30, 2025

On April 29th, ASA held an emergency town hall to discuss the significance of a letter and press release issued by the U.S. Attorney for the District.

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Americans for Safe Access

MARCH 29, 2025

Join us in DC: May 18-19, 2025 Join advocates in our nation's capital for a day of skill and community-building workshops, followed by meetings with your federal representatives. Congress needs to hear from you about these priorities for patients: Pass the CJS Medical Cannabis Amendment without clawbacks to protect patients and providers.

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Americans for Safe Access

MARCH 29, 2025

Join us in DC: May 18-19, 2025 Join advocates in our nation's capital for a day of skill and community-building workshops, followed by meetings with your federal representatives. Congress needs to hear from you about these priorities for patients: Pass the CJS Medical Cannabis Amendment without clawbacks to protect patients and providers.

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Americans for Safe Access

MARCH 28, 2025

Americans for Safe Access members were at the Ohio State House on March 20th to remind policymakers to prioritize Ohio medical cannabis patients as they consider cannabis legislation this session. Ohio legislators have been at odds with voters after they overwhelmingly supported cannabis legalization at the ballot box in November 2023 by passing Issue 2.

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Legislation Access Patients Legalization 211

Americans for Safe Access

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

How to Participate in Medical Cannabis Awareness Week Medical Cannabis Awareness Week is an opportunity to educate and alert your network about the challenges facing medical cannabis patients and ways they can get involved. Tune in & learn how you can join advocates across the U.S. and make some noise for change in 2025! Sign-up: www.SafeAccessNow.org/mcaw_2025 Please subscribe to ASA's YouTube Channel!

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Americans for Safe Access

FEBRUARY 15, 2025

Feb 15-22, 2025, is Medical Cannabis Awareness Week! This is a time for medical cannabis advocates to better educate themselves and their communities about all things medical cannabis. We have created this playlist to highlight some of the resources we have on the Americans for Safe Access YouTube Channel. Pick or choose or explore other playlists. Happy Medical Cannabis Awareness Week!

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Americans for Safe Access

JANUARY 30, 2025

Playing Defense in the 119th Congress The 2024 Elections shook up leadership in the administration and in Congress, putting a cohort of anti-cannabis representatives in positions that could significantly impact gains to patient access from medical cannabis programs and hemp markets. Tune in and get prepared for defensive organizing strategies in the upcoming months.

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Americans for Safe Access

FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Offensive Strategies for Medical Cannabis Policy in the 119th Congress Key milestones achieved by the medical cannabis movement in the last few years and the shake-up in D.C. following the 2024 elections could mean a national medical cannabis program is closer than ever. However, advancing medical cannabis policy will require strategic campaigning and disciplined movement building.

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Policy Programs Cannabis 130

Americans for Safe Access

JANUARY 21, 2025

WELCOME TO ASAS FIRST 100 DAYS CAMPAIGN! The first 100 days of the 47th Administration and 119th Congress will set policy priorities that impact millions of patients across America. From the economy to housing and public health, these decisions will shape the direction of medical cannabis policy for years to come. The only way to ensure these changes truly benefit patients is to make our voices heard!

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Patients Policy Cannabis 130

Americans for Safe Access

JANUARY 23, 2025

Americans for Safe Access Lunch & Learn Webinar Series-1/22/25 How to get involved with ASA's First 100 Days Campaign Policy priorities will be set in the first 100 days of the 47th Administration and 119th Congress for the upcoming year. Tune in and learn how you can get involved!

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Americans for Safe Access

JANUARY 15, 2025

DEA Postponed Rescheduling Hearing, What Just Happened? Join ASA staff as we dive into the new ruling to postpone the DEA hearings, what it means for the current rescheduling process, and where we go from here. SafeAccessNow.

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DEA 264

Americans for Safe Access

JANUARY 12, 2025

As a pediatric emergency department pharmacist, I witness both the incredible potential of modern medicine and some of its most glaring gaps. One of those gaps is medical cannabis, which, in my opinion, is a tremendously underutilized tool. Even among the sickest and most vulnerable patients I see, I often find myself wondering: Could medical cannabis help this person?

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Patients Medicine Cannabis 264

Americans for Safe Access

DECEMBER 30, 2024

Nearly two decades ago, we founded Americans for Safe Access (ASA) to bring patients needs and voices out of the shadows and into the center of the national cannabis debate. Back then, patients were criminalized, stigmatized, and rarely heardtrotted out in courtrooms or used as talking points, then shut out of actual policy decisions. Our work at ASA began out of necessity: patients like myself needed recognition, protection, and a clear path to safely and legally access life-changingand in many

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Americans for Safe Access

DECEMBER 13, 2024

Americans for Safe Access Founder Steph Sherer Returns to Lead the Initiative Washington, D.C. Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is proud to announce the return of its founder, Steph Sherer, to the position of Executive Director. Sherer will lead a renewed, nationwide effort to fully integrate cannabis-based medicines into the U.S. healthcare system.

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Americans for Safe Access

NOVEMBER 29, 2024

On Monday, December 2, 2024, at 9:30 a.m., formal hearings begin regarding the Department of Justice's (DOJ) notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to move cannabis to Schedule III. The hearing will be live streamed: www.DEA.gov/live.

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Cannabis 246

Americans for Safe Access

NOVEMBER 29, 2024

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) General Notice of Hearing (GNoH) state : "The purpose of a hearing would be to receive factual evidence and expert opinion regarding whether marijuana should be transferred to Schedule III of the list of controlled substances.Upon reviewing the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) memorandum titled "Questions Related to the Potential Rescheduling of Marijuana," it become

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Americans for Safe Access

NOVEMBER 17, 2024

While Presidential candidates’ positions on cannabis may make for good headlines, the reality is that, aside from signing legislation and directing federal agencies, the office of the President of the United States (POTUS) does not have the power to fundamentally change cannabis laws. Even the rescheduling process currently in the hands of the DEA, resisting the move to Schedule III, will be out of reach of President Trump’s influence.

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Americans for Safe Access

NOVEMBER 6, 2024

Join ASA Staff, Advisors, Chapters, Members, & Affiliates for this post-election webinar. We will discuss the impacts of the election, a potentially jam-packed lame-duck session, National Days of Action, the DEA rescheduling hearings, and preparing for the 47th president & 119th Congress.

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DEA 299

Americans for Safe Access

NOVEMBER 3, 2024

TAKE A BREATH The Administrative Law Judge recently postponed the DEA’s highly anticipated rescheduling hearing and released the DEA’s witness list, prompting speculation, conspiracies, and anxiety about the delay and the agency’s next moves. Before you pull your hair out, read these five essential points to put your mind at ease. With your hair intact, you can focus on the one area where you can impact rescheduling—(wait for it).

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Americans for Safe Access

OCTOBER 31, 2024

We are happy to present you with the Election Edition of the ASA Monthly Newsletter! Americans for Safe Access launched the Compassionate Candidate Campaign to provide candidates in the 468 Congressional races in the 2024 Election information on policies that will improve the lives of medical cannabis patients. With one week until the election, ASA has put together this special edition of that ASA monthly newsletter to bring you the information you need on November 5th.

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Americans for Safe Access

OCTOBER 11, 2024

Americans for Safe Access (ASA) has been at the forefront of fighting for patients’ rights to access medical cannabis across four presidencies since our founding in 2002. We've crafted briefing materials and “100-day campaigns” for three incoming administrations on medical cannabis policy. Over the years, we’ve learned what a president can—and, more importantly, cannot—do to shape cannabis policy.

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