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

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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Patients Cannabinoids Programs Access 130

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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Patients Cannabinoids Programs Access 130

Americans for Safe Access

APRIL 3, 2025

Special guest Crista Egger updates us from the frontline! Crista Eggers is deeply committed to the advocacy and advancement of medical cannabis legalization in Nebraska. Crista's passion for advocacy began when her youngest son, Colton, was diagnosed with intractable epilepsy just after he turned two. After exhausting all medications and available treatment options for Colton, his doctors mentioned medical cannabis treatment.

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Advocacy Epilepsy Treatment Education 165

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

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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Advocacy Events Patients Policy 147

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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DEA Policy Cannabis 130

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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Education Patients Cannabis 130

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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Education Access Cannabis 130

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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Access Patients Programs Cannabis 264

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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Programs Access Hemp Patients 130

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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Policy Access 130

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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Patients Access Policy Cannabis 246

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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Access Medicine Cannabis 246

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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DEA Marijuana Legalization 130

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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Policy Patients DEA Legislation 290

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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DEA Law 299

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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Patients Programs Safety Policy 130

Americans for Safe Access

OCTOBER 28, 2024

This election year, Capitol Hill buzzed with discussions about cannabis scheduling, hemp regulations, and the FDA’s evolving role in regulating cannabinoids. Yet, missing from these debates was one critical topic: the future of medical cannabis and protections for patients. As we head toward the 2024 election, it’s clear that cannabis policies will shift in the next Congress, impacting the lives of patients and families across the nation.

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Patients Topical Cannabinoids Policy 279

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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Patients Law Policy Access 227

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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Patients Law Policy Access 130

Americans for Safe Access

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

On September 26th, medical cannabis advocates from Hawaii to Florida gathered on Capitol Hill for the Validated Voices Summit, representing patients from across the nation. It marked a pivotal moment as patients met in Washington, DC, for the first time since the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) acknowledged that cannabis has accepted medical use in the United States.

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Patients Cannabis 130

Americans for Safe Access

AUGUST 15, 2024

(Image from the Cathy Jordan Movie Facebook Page) The world has lost a remarkable advocate and beloved friend in Cathy Jordan, who passed away on July 4th at her home in South Florida at the age of 74. Her life was a testament to courage and resilience, and her legacy as a pioneer in the fight for medical cannabis rights will continue to inspire countless individuals.

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Conditions Cannabis 147

Americans for Safe Access

OCTOBER 4, 2024

Guest Blog: by Jennifer Douglas, Founder Homegrown4Heroes In recent months, the cannabis community supporting veterans through Homegrown4Heroes (HG4H) has faced an unprecedented challenge. Hurricane Helene, a powerful and destructive storm, ravaged vast portions of the East Coast, leaving behind a path of devastation, not only in homes and infrastructure but also in the green fields where HG4H’s growers cultivate their crops.

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Access Cultivation Cannabis 264

Americans for Safe Access

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024

ASA's Monthly Newsletter! Back by popular demand, we are proud to bring you the ASA Monthly Newsletter! We can only continue to do this important work with your support, consider becoming an ASA member today! ASA has recently revamped our Member Benefits Program, adding new benefits for our members each month like the 20% off offer on Nectar Products (see article below on Nectar) & 50% off registration for the upcoming Validated Voices Summit in September.

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DEA Programs Patients Safety 147

Americans for Safe Access

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

Join Americans for Safe Access (ASA) for a Roundtable discussion on cannabis product recalls with key stakeholders to discuss the basics of recalls, how they work, what they mean for patients and consumer health, and why they signal a functioning cannabis regulatory system.

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Patients Programs Access Cannabis 255

Americans for Safe Access

SEPTEMBER 12, 2024

Americans for Safe Access (ASA) fully supports the regulation of cannabinoid products as part of our mission to ensure safe access for patients, and we want you to be successful in your efforts to do so in California. We have consistently called for federal oversight of these products and supported the spirit of AB 2223 but requested a minor yet crucial amendment to address a major issue affecting some of California’s most vulnerable residents.

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Medicine Access Patients Cannabinoids 264

Americans for Safe Access

SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

For Immediate Release: September 5, 2024 AMID RECENT CANNABIS RECALLS, AMERICANS FOR SAFE ACCESS RELEASES CRITICAL REPORT: "What’s in Your Cannabis? A Patient & Consumer Guide to Navigating Cannabis Safety" Washington, D.C. – Following a concerning series of cannabis recalls due to contamination, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) announced the release of a crucial new resource today: " What’s in Your Cannabis?

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Safety Access Patients Cannabis 214

Americans for Safe Access

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

By Doug Henry for Mother Jones One seller claims Gold Coast Clear is “working hard to keep their customers safe,” and that “these verified cartridges have undergone various lab tests approved by CannaSafe.” Of course, that language doesn’t say they were actually tested by CannaSafe. Indeed, that lab closed in 2022, largely, according to former president Antonio Frazier, because “lab shopping” clients went elsewhere seeking more positive results.

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Vaping Cannabinoids Access Business 130

Americans for Safe Access

OCTOBER 5, 2023

By Kate Robertson for MJBizDaily State marijuana regulators, producers and other stakeholders are grappling with how to safeguard consumers at a time when lab-testing requirements and enforcement differ dramatically nationwide and large-scale product recalls are common. Each state currently takes its own approach to medical and adult-use cannabis lab testing for potency and contaminants as well as production standards and inspection – a situation that has led to inconsistent testing regulations

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Advocacy Marijuana Safety Access 130

Americans for Safe Access

OCTOBER 5, 2023

By Hannah LaClaire for the Portland Press Herald Steph Sherer, founder of medical cannabis advocacy group Americans for Safe Access, stressed during the panel Tuesday that contaminants are often an innocent mistake. “It doesn’t mean that there’s someone who has some evil plan to contaminate patients,” she said. Cannabis is a bioaccumulator, meaning it will suck up and hold onto any pesticides and heavy metals in the soil.

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Advocacy Access Patients Cannabis 130