Media coverage is one of the most effective ways to raise public awareness about medical cannabis and the challenges facing patients—and the good news is that each of us can contribute directly. By writing a Letter to the Editor (LTE) or an opinion editorial for your local media, you not only reach your community (and online readers), you also influence the sources your federal elected officials watch most closely when shaping policy.
Embarking on a local LTE campaign brings the patient perspective to your community while also putting national medical cannabis policy on the radar of local journalists. The next time they cover cannabis, your words may spark them to think: “Maybe I should include the perspective of a medical cannabis patient and mention national solutions.” That ripple effect ensures patients are part of the conversation where they belong.
It might feel daunting to write your first letter, but once you do, it becomes easier. A single strong LTE amplifying the patient voice can inspire action, shape narratives, and move us closer to a national medical cannabis program.
Letters to the editor are usually a few hundred words long, but you will want to make sure your local paper doesn’t have any more specific requirements. You can check our list of links to the largest papers, Op-ed, and Letters to the Editor submissions for reference.
Check your outlet’s website for “Letters to the Editor” or “Opinion” submission instructions. If they don’t provide details, search for “how to submit a letter to the editor [NAME OF PAPER]” or email the Editor directly. Some papers also post guidance for longer opinion pieces, which can be helpful if you want to dig deeper into the case for a national medical cannabis program. Once you know their requirements and contact information, you can start writing.
Local media matters because Members of Congress—and the parties that set national policy agendas—pay close attention to coverage in their own states. By planting patient-first LTEs in multiple states, we increase the chances of bigger stories in the national press. That kind of momentum helps push policymakers to consider a national framework instead of leaving patients stuck in a patchwork.
Opinion pieces are longer (500–800 words) and harder to place. LTEs are shorter, run more often, and typically respond to something the outlet has already published. Think of an LTE as a quick intervention in the conversation—fast, sharp, and easy for the editor to run. Check the paper for specific guidelines.
Here are some key messages from ASA Campaigns to inspire you!
"The absence of comprehensive medical cannabis legislation leaves millions without essential federal protections, compelling patients to make an impossible choice: their health or their basic rights. For many, prioritizing health could mean risking their housing, education, and financial stability, underlining the urgent need for federal action."
"Without comprehensive federal legislation on medical cannabis, millions of patients are stripped of basic rights. This forces many Americans into a difficult position: they must choose between following their healthcare provider's advice and the potentially severe consequences of losing critical federal services and rights, a decision that directly threatens their livelihood and well-being."
"State laws are falling short, leaving many patients behind. We need comprehensive federal policies that guarantee access to affordable medical cannabis for everyone."
“Patients should not have to choose between their rights and their health. It's time to end the federal prohibition on medical cannabis and restore patient freedoms.”
“Federal reform is necessary to ensure all patients, including veterans and federal employees, can benefit from medical cannabis.”
"By integrating medical cannabis into our national healthcare framework, we can offer patients more effective treatment options for chronic and debilitating conditions, potentially reducing reliance on more harmful medications like opioids."
“States have fulfilled their role as laboratories of democracy for medical cannabis policy. It’s now our responsibility as lawmakers to ensure that laws keep pace with science and public opinion and pass comprehensive medical cannabis legislation.”
“The recent recognition of cannabis' medical value by federal health agencies underscores the critical need for Congress to update and harmonize existing laws. While the rescheduling of cannabis marks a significant advancement, it does not address all the complexities of its use as a medical treatment.”
"Medical cannabis is not just an alternative treatment; it’s a life-changing medicine for millions. It is time we acknowledge its efficacy and ensure all patients have access to this essential relief.”
"The opioid crisis has devastated communities across the United States. Medical cannabis has shown promise as an alternative for pain management, potentially reducing reliance on opioids. By expanding access to medical cannabis, we can contribute to efforts aimed at combating the pain epidemic and opioid crisis, promoting safer and potentially more effective options for pain relief.”
"Cannabis isn't just a recreational choice for millions of patients; it is medicine. Without a national medical cannabis program, patients are being forced to navigate markets that prioritize novelty and variety of products for recreational consumers over the specific needs of medical patients.”
“Cannabis presents a promising option for the management of chronic pain, sleep disturbances, and anxiety among older adults, potentially reducing reliance on multiple medications and improving the quality of life.”
Make it relevant
TIP: If you connect your submission to a recent article from the news source, you will have a much better chance of being published.
Look for articles about rescheduling, issues with the medical cannabis program, or comparisons to cannabis laws in other states published in the target news source. If you can’t find a direct connection, create one by pointing out what gets left out of the adult-use debate: patients still need a national medical cannabis program with consistent product safety, interstate access, clinical guidance, and insurance coverage.
Make it personal
Share briefly why this issue matters to you. Are you a patient who faces gaps in care when traveling across state lines? A veteran who struggles to afford medicine because there’s no coverage? A clinician who wants clear federal guidance? Keep it short, but make it real. Authentic experiences give your letter weight.
Include you Expertise
If you are a healthcare professional, patient, researcher, caregiver, or business owner, explain how your perspective informs your view. For example: “As a nurse, I see patients forced to choose between inconsistent state products or unsafe alternatives. A national program would provide the uniform standards we need in healthcare.” Your credibility strengthens the argument.
Offer a critique
Point out what’s wrong with the status quo. State-by-state rules create confusion and risk. Adult-use laws, however popular, don’t solve medical problems. Patients are left behind without national standards for safety, clinical guidance, coverage, and accessibility.
Offer a solution
This is the easy part. Tell readers what patients need, such as a national medical cannabis program. Spell out that Americans for Safe Access has already developed a roadmap with solutions—uniform product-safety standards, integration into healthcare, coverage pathways, and protections for interstate access.
Give it a snappy title
If you’re replying to a specific article, you can write “Re: [Article Title].” Otherwise, go for something short and direct:
- [State]’s new cannabis law will leave medical patients behind
- We need smarter cannabis laws to better serve patients
- [State] should be doing more for medical cannabis patients
- No Patient Should Lose Access Because of a State Line
- Patients Shouldn’t Pay the Price for Political Gridlock
- Congress Must Put Patients Before Politics on Cannabis
Most outlets require your name, city, and phone number. Paste your letter into the body of an email or use the paper’s online form. That’s really all there is to it.
If it doesn’t get published, don’t get discouraged—edit it to respond to another article and try again. Cannabis stories appear frequently, and persistence pays off. Keep an eye out for opportunities to connect their coverage to the issues patients are facing and continue to provide the patient’s perspective.
Federal Action Needed to Protect Patients
The absence of comprehensive federal medical cannabis legislation leaves millions of patients without essential protections. Today, choosing health can mean risking housing, education, employment, or federal benefits. No one should have to choose between their medicine and their basic rights.
Federal reform is the only way forward. A national medical cannabis program would integrate cannabis into healthcare, provide insurance coverage, and set product-safety standards that patients can trust. It would ensure that veterans, seniors, federal employees, and families in every state have equal access to care.
The opioid crisis has devastated communities. Cannabis offers a safer option for pain management, reducing reliance on opioids and improving quality of life for countless patients. The science is clear; public support is overwhelming.
Congress must act. Patients cannot wait any longer for the protections they deserve.
John Smith
Washington D.C.
Adult-Use Isn’t Enough, Patients Need a National Program
Re: “[Article Title].” Expanding adult-use access does not solve the challenges medical cannabis patients face. Adult-use markets prioritize novelty, variety, and profit. Patients, on the other hand, need consistency, clear dosing, medical guidance, and insurance coverage.
I am a [patient/clinician/caregiver], and I’ve seen firsthand how patients are left out when adult-use is treated as a substitute for medical protections. Without federal reform, traveling across state lines can mean losing access entirely. Without national standards, patients risk mislabeled or unsafe products. And without integration into healthcare, patients are left to navigate treatment alone.
We need a national medical cannabis program designed with patients in mind: safe products, physician education, and coverage that makes medicine affordable. Adult-use laws cannot replace a patient-first framework. Patients deserve more than patchwork—they deserve protection, dignity, and care.
Jane Smith
Austin, TX
Patients Deserve Access, Not Stigma on Cannabis
Re: “[Article Title].” Suggesting cannabis should remain illegal because it is “harmful” ignores decades of evidence and the voices of millions of patients. Federal health agencies, including HHS, have already recognized cannabis’ medical value. Yet, under current laws, patients must choose between following their doctor’s advice or risking their housing, employment, or federal benefits.
Cannabis is not just a recreational choice—it is medicine. For patients with chronic pain, epilepsy, PTSD, and cancer, it can mean relief when other treatments fail. A national medical cannabis program would establish consistent product-safety standards, integrate cannabis into healthcare, and expand coverage options so patients aren’t left behind.
We can reduce opioid dependence, improve patient outcomes, and protect basic rights. Patients should not be collateral damage in a culture war. It’s time to put science and compassion before stigma and politics.
Ida Aces
Macon, GA
Patients Need National Standards for Safe Cannabis
Re: “[Article Title].” Reports of contaminated cannabis products are deeply troubling, but they are also preventable. Patients deserve safe, consistent medicine—not a lottery where their health depends on which state they live in or which company they buy from.
This is exactly why we need a national medical cannabis program. Right now, states operate with a patchwork of testing and labeling rules. That leaves vulnerable patients at risk of exposure to pesticides, heavy metals, and other contaminants. Uniform federal standards would ensure that cannabis medicine meets the same level of safety and reliability we expect from any other treatment.
Patients managing cancer, chronic pain, or seizures shouldn’t have to gamble on product quality. Congress must act to establish a comprehensive medical framework that protects patients everywhere—not just in states with stricter rules. Safe access is not optional; it’s a basic right.
Chris Johnson
Buffalo, NY
When your letter is published, please email ASA with the link at i[email protected] so we can amplify your work and share it with other advocates.
Once your LTE is published, post it on social media and tag ASA. Encourage other patients, caregivers, and professionals in your network to write their own. Every letter adds to the growing chorus calling for a national medical cannabis program that puts patients first.
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