ASA in the News
Geoffrey Marshall
Michigan’s Cannabis Program Receives B+ In National Ranking - Americans for Safe Access
By Rick Thompson for Weed News
Americans for Safe Access (ASA) has issued its 2018-2019 State of the States report card for cannabis programs in the United States and Michigan’s ranking remains steady with a B+ grade.
The group issues the reports most years. In 2015 Michigan received a C+ and has been awarded the B+ in each report since, in 2016, 2017 and the current issue.
Geoffrey Marshall
This pro-cannabis group issued its latest report card. Here’s N.J.'s grade. - Americans for Safe Access
By Jonathan D. Salant for NJ.com
New Jersey, about to embark on an expansion of medical marijuana, received higher marks this year than in the past from a group that supports access to cannabis for medical use.
Americans for Safe Access gave the Garden State a B, up from C the past three years, in its annual report card. The report was released Tuesday as the National Conference of State Legislatures gathered in Nashville for its annual meeting.
Geoffrey Marshall
ASA Unveils 2019 Report Cards For U.S. Medical Cannabis Programs - Americans for Safe Access
By Johnny Green for Weed News
Americans for Safe Access (ASA) has released its 2019 report card titled, “2019 State of the States Report: An Analysis of Medical Cannabis Access in the United States” in conjunction with the start of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Legislative Summit in Nashville, Tennessee.
The nearly 200-page report provides a detailed analysis of the state of medical cannabis programs in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and four territories on a ‘A’ to ‘F’ scale. States were assessed in six categories: 1) Patient rights and civil protections; 2) Access to medicine; 3) Ease of navigation; 4) Functionality; 5) Consumer safety and provider requirements; and 6) Medical cannabis as a tool in combating the opioid epidemic.
Geoffrey Marshall
Cannabis Legalization Leaders Weigh 2019’s Wins and Losses - Americans for Safe Access
By Max Savage Levenson for Leafly
“What surprises me the most is when people only care about what’s happening in their own state. We’re a national organization. But what we’ve noticed is that about a year after a law has been passed, suddenly these advocates come out again, and say they don’t have what they need. They start to advocate again.” - Debbie Churgai
Geoffrey Marshall
How to Buy CBD - Americans for Safe Access
By Lisa Esposito for US News & World Report
Scrutinize the label. You need to know precisely what's within the container. Having this information speaks to the product's purity, quality, consistency and safe use. All this should all appear on product labels, according to "Patient's Guide to CBD: 2019," a downloadable report from Americans for Safe Access, a nonprofit group with the goal of promoting legal, safe use of medical cannabis.
Geoffrey Marshall
Guam gets a ‘C’ grade in medical cannabis access - Americans for Safe Access
By Louella Losinio for Pacific News Center
Guam received a “C” grade in the recent medical cannabis access state report released by the Americans for Safe Access (ASA). This is an upgrade to the “C-minus” grade Guam received during the previous year.
Geoffrey Marshall
WSU College of Medicine eyes more instruction on medical cannabis as study suggests doctors reluctant to talk about it - Americans for Safe Access
By Kip Hill for The Spokesman-Review
Washington’s requirement of any type of instruction for its consultants sets it apart from other states that have legalized medicinal cannabis, said Debbie Churgai, interim director of the national group Americans for Safe Access that pushes for reforms to increase clinical access to the drug.
“Most states don’t have required education for doctors, or patients, or anyone that works in a dispensary,” Churgai said. “For Washington state to have that requirement is amazing.”
Geoffrey Marshall
It's Easier To Buy CBD In Kansas Than To Know For Sure What's In It Or What It's Good For - Americans for Safe Access
By Celia Llopis-Jepsen for KCUR 89.3
“Honestly, I’m scared for people,” said Lisa Sublett, of medical cannabis proponents Bleeding Kansas Advocates. “I don’t trust the stuff at your gas station, sorry. You really have no idea what’s in the bottle.”
She recommends consulting The Patient’s Guide to CBD, a 50-page primer from Americans For Safe Access that explains labels, lab analyses and more.
Geoffrey Marshall
Medical marijuana users will get dibs if supply wanes, but evidence from other states indicates some may turn to recreational pot once it is legal in Illinois - Americans for Safe Access
By Jamie Munks for the Chicago Tribune
“Anybody who’s really suffering should not be prohibited access to this product.” - David Mangone
Meredith Cohn
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy to offer medical cannabis education - Americans for Safe Access
By Meredith Cohn for the Baltimore Sun
Debbie Churgai, interim director for Americans for Safe Access, said she did not know what changed or why the university did not approach the group again.
The group continues to offer its own courses that focus on how to operate legally and based on what’s known about the science, she said. Churgai said her group initially approached Maryland and persuaded it of the need for well-crafted and standardized training. Maryland could lend credibility and reach far more students, she said.
“We applaud Maryland for finally doing it,” Churgai said about the training. “It would have been nice if they gave us some credit.”
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