Pledge to Demand Equity for Patients

Despite the fact that a wide majority of 36 states have now created comprehensive programs to allow legal access to medical cannabis treatment, there are still vital conflicts in the web of state and federal regulations stemming from remaining federal prohibition. From addressing challenges faced by patients in federally subsidized housing to veterans whose doctors are prohibited from recommending cannabis as a treatment option, the executive branch can accomplish meaningful change for patients without legislative action. That’s why at ASA, we were disappointed when President Biden’s first 100 days plan included no action on cannabis reform. 

This is the first in a series of blogs promoting our new campaign titled: Biden-Harris Can Do It: No Patient Left Behind!. With each blog, we aim to highlight a federal policy conflict that  affects millions of patients across the country who are at risk of being penalized for their cannabis use or are denied safe and legal access altogether. These are issues which can largely be solved through direct action by the Biden administration and his cabinet.

We need your help to send a clear message that it is crucial the administration take action now: 

• Urge HUD to Stop Evictions of Medical Cannabis Patients in Federal Housing
• Urge the VA to Allow Doctors to Recommend Cannabis to Veterans
• Urge DOJ to Reinstate the Cole Memo
• Urge OPM to prohibit cannabis drug testing for federal employees and contractors
• Urge POTUS & VP to Establish an Office of Medical Cannabis Control

It is critical that we continue to motivate this new administration to put the well being of medical cannabis patients first. Leading up to ASA’s 2021 Unity conference, we will be providing members with actions like those described above that you can take from the comfort of your home to let this administration know we urgently need White House leadership to implement policy reforms to serve the most vulnerable medical cannabis patients among us. Our 9th Annual National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference will begin on April 29, 2021, corresponding to the end of the first 100 days of the new Biden administration.

If you would like resources to help you or your community to take action around these important patient issues, take our pledge and we will be in touch with more information!

Keep a lookout for the upcoming blogs in this series, as we explore various actions executive departments can take to help expand access and protect patients.