ASA in the News

By Pamela Comme for KVUE

"This is a medical decision, just like any other medical decision that you would make. That decision and authority need to be left up to the patient and their physician who know the patient's health best and what will be best for the patient. And it shouldn't be left up to the Legislature or regulators to decide who will have access, or who can benefit from medical cannabis." - Abbey Roudebush

By Will Brendza for Boulder Weekly

“ASA is disturbed by the direction Colorado policymakers have chosen to take in amending cannabis laws. ASA recommends an emergency session be called to issue an immediate repeal of HB 1317 before it devastates the state’s patient population and creates a crisis of access.”

By Nicole Potter for High Times

Arizona was also recently included in the annual Americans for Safe Access “State of the States Report.” The ASA report revisits progress, or lack thereof, in each state in regards to recreational and medical cannabis programs. No states received an A this year, and only two received a B (Maine) and B minus (Illinois) but a large majority of states received some form of C grade, including Arizona with a C minus. According to the Phoenix New Times, Arizona’s cannabis programs are on the average scale. “Arizona’s C- rating places it in the middle of the pack, but in the top half, with 18 state programs better, 32 worse, and four others the same.” Among its weakest points, according to the ASA, is the state’s program administration. However, it did receive higher marks for “Patient rights and civil protections,” “Consumer Protection and Product Safety,” and “Access to medicine.”

By Sanford Nowlin for the San Antonio Current

Texas is one of 13 U.S. states and territories to receive a failing grade on national medical cannabis advocacy group Americans for Safe Access' 2021 report card.
ASA's annual "State of the States" report analyzes each state's medical marijuana program, rating it on factors including access, affordability, legal protection, product availability and product testing and labeling.

By Steve Bloom for CelebStoner

According to American for Safe Access, 2021 was not a great year for medical marijuana. The organization's 2021 State of the States Report analyzes medical-cannabis access in the U.S. No state scores an "A" and only two states (Maine and Illinois) receive "B" marks. From 2020 to 2021, just four states (Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana and Missouri) had improved grades. Every other state's grade declined.

By Cyrus Guccione for the Phoenix New Times

In its latest State of the States Report, ASA said that Arizona's passing grade is largely because of its emphasis on recreational adult-use cannabis diverting resources away from the medical cannabis program.

By Douglas Clark for Financial Regulation News

“As the largest cannabis patient advocacy group, their recommendations have helped me hone in on issues that impact patients and work to pass improvements to better their lives. The report has also been a critical tool in educating my colleagues on the shortfalls of the current program and why improvements are necessary for Pennsylvanians.”
- Rep. Chris Rabb (PA-200)

From Green Market Report

Americans For Safe Access released its 2021 State of the State report and the results were pretty disappointing. Only two states received a rating in the B category, with no states getting an A. The two states scoring B’s were Illinois and Maine. Early medical marijuana states like California and Colorado only managed to get C+ grades. The group noted that its grade for each state’s medical cannabis program is based on how well it meets the needs of patients in six categories, plus a seventh category to deduct points based on issues that can harm patients.

By Thy Vo for The Colorado Sun

“It’s very important for states and lawmakers … not to forget about the very real patients who rely on the medical cannabis program.”
- Abbey Roudebush