ASA’S PROGRAMS, PROJECTS, & CAMPAIGNS
As medical cannabis policy evolves, so do Americans for Safe Access projects and programs. When ASA was founded in 2002, much of our organizing was focused on supporting individuals being raided by the DEA and facing issues with law enforcement. Thanks to 20 years of successful campaigning, legal battles, and legislative victories, our programs, projects, and campaigns focus primarily on addressing knowledge, policy, and regulatory gaps to improve access to medical cannabis, including educating medical cannabis stakeholders, improving safe access programs, and advocating for a national medical cannabis program.
ASA Campaigns:
SAFE ACCESS 4 ALL
Cannabis therapeutics are helping millions of Americans, often where all traditional options have failed or as a safer treatment option, and have changed how many patients and their medical professionals approach treatment for a variety of chronic illnesses. While state-level initiatives have demonstrated the potential of medical cannabis, the lack of federal laws and regulations poses challenges for patients, researchers, and medical practitioners, keeping cannabis treatments from reaching their full potential.
A national medical cannabis program would fill this void, ensuring uniformity in regulations, restoring rights for medical cannabis patients, creating nationwide access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research, and forging a new, purpose-built pathway for cannabis therapeutics.
Americans for Safe Access has developed a legislative framework for a national medical cannabis program that builds on the knowledge from the state-level experiment and includes input from patients, regulators, researchers, medical professionals, medical cannabis providers, and patient originations, and incorporates the experience of the 65 countries with federal medical cannabis programs.
PATIENTS FIRST
“Patients First: A Compassionate Agenda for America” is a national campaign dedicated to protecting the rights and well-being of medical cannabis patients. Rooted in the belief that every patient deserves safe, affordable access to doctor-recommended treatments, the campaign seeks to dispel myths, shift public perception, and support meaningful policy changes. By advocating for pragmatic, science-based reforms, “Patients First” hopes to end punitive policies that jeopardize housing, employment, and healthcare for those whose only ‘offense’ is seeking relief from debilitating conditions.
Central to the campaign’s mission is ensuring that federal policy aligns with current medical knowledge and patient needs. Through coordinated efforts targeting both the White House and the 119th Congress, “Patients First” champions legislative measures—such as reinstating the Cole Memo, protecting veterans’ rights, and advancing comprehensive research—while fighting harmful proposals that threaten patient access. By uniting patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and advocates nationwide, this campaign signals a new era of compassion and common sense in America’s approach to medical cannabis.
WHAT'S IN YOUR CANNABIS?
Cannabis is generally regarded as a safe product with low toxicity, but this assessment is based on whole-plant products that are free from contaminants and adulterants. However, many ingredients found in cannabis products, such as additives used for flavoring and consistency, synthesized compounds, and highly concentrated cannabinoids (THC, CBD, etc) and terpenes, might be safe, but scientific proof, especially for long-term use is lacking. Also, cannabis is especially prone to contamination during cultivation, manufacturing, handling, and storage.
Unfortunately, it is not always clear how or if cannabis products are regulated or where to find credible sources about their legal status, safety, and efficacy: this is especially concerning if you are one of the millions of Americans who rely on cannabis as an invaluable medicine. Navigating cannabis safety involves recognizing when cannabis is not a suitable treatment option (or intoxicant), the risks associated with products in various markets, the potential impacts of label inaccuracies, and distinguishing common cannabis side effects from symptoms of contamination.
What's in Your Cannabis? Campaign is designed to empower patients and consumers with the knowledge to make informed decisions about cannabis and provides the tools they need to advocate for themselves and a safer cannabis future.
MEDICAL CANNABIS EQUITY
As recreational adult-use cannabis programs have emerged across the country, it was believed they would improve patient access. Sadly, this hasn't been the case. In fact, we can see after over a decade of dual market experiments, patients are being overlooked as states shift their focus to the recreational adult-use market, neglecting the needs of medical cannabis programs.
We can turn this trend around, but it will take the power of collective action. Together, we can create a more equitable future for medical cannabis patients by educating the public, media, businesses, and policymakers about the importance of medical cannabis equity.
Americans for Safe Access has created a series of tools for advocates to utilize to address these issues in their communities, including sample legislative language, reports, fact sheets, and more. By joining the Medical Cannabis Equity Campaign, you are empowering yourself and other impacted stakeholders by standing up, speaking out, and making a lasting impact on the legislation and regulations that shape our communities.
ASA PROJECTS:
The Cannabis and Cannabinoid Medicine Initiative (CCMI)
| The Cannabis and Cannabinoid Medicine Initiative (CCMI) is spearheading a transformative effort to integrate cannabis-based therapies into the U.S. healthcare system to create a more inclusive, compassionate, and effective healthcare framework for all Americans. Led by a diverse advisory group of healthcare, medical cannabis stakeholders, and cannabis policy experts, CCMI engages healthcare industry stakeholders to identify and address the gaps between state-level compassionate use programs and the requirements of the national healthcare infrastructure to include medical cannabis. |  |
Federal Advocacy Project
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Since ASA opened our DC office in 2006, patients have had representation on Capitol Hill through direct engagement with members of Congress and administrative agencies, as well as through countless public comments, white papers, policy memos, and reports. ASA has also educated lawmakers on patient access to medical cannabis, roadblocks to research, and the role each federal agency can play in protecting patients. Each year, ASA helps medical cannabis patients from around the country to lobby together on Capitol Hill. |
State Access Watchdog Project
| While the longstanding federal prohibition on medical cannabis can frustrate state efforts, ASA has made tremendous progress on the state level in shaping medical cannabis policy, with forty states now having passed comprehensive medical cannabis programs. ASA regularly contributes comments and testimony on pending state legislation and regulations to ensure that state programs are patient-focused rather than profit-driven. ASA continues to work with policymakers and advocates to improve regulations and legislation to better serve patients. |  |
Patient Advocacy Empowerment Project
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Medical cannabis policy is better designed and implemented when patients are at the table. The reality is that if you are not a medical cannabis patient or stakeholder, you probably don’t understand the nuances of cannabis policy. For over 20 years, the Patient Advocacy Empowerment Project has been arming patients with the knowledge, tools, and skills to advocate for themselves through strategic planning, public speaking, bill drafting, media outreach, and citizen lobbying. |
Ryan’s Law Implementation Project
| In September 2021, “Ryan’s Law” was signed into law in California, requiring healthcare facilities to allow the use of medical cannabis on their premises for terminally ill patients with a valid medical cannabis card or/ recommendation from their physician. ASA’s Ryan’s Law Implementation Project includes an implementation guide for healthcare facilities that summarizes the law, sample policy documents, draft SOPs, and resources to help physicians and their patients navigate the new rights afforded under the law. |  |
Patients’ Know Your Rights Project
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While medical cannabis is legal in many states, these laws vary dramatically from state to state, and cannabis remains illegal federally. For over 20 years, Americans for Safe Access has been arming patients and medical cannabis stakeholders with tools to know and express their rights. |
Annual National Unity Conference
ASA PROGRAMS:
Patient Focused Certification
| Patient Focused Certification (PFC) is a groundbreaking initiative that provides individuals, companies, and governments with the tools needed to ensure safe, high-quality cannabis and hemp products. PFC includes regulatory guidance on GMP/GAP cannabis standards, third-party certification, and workforce training for any business or government agency, regardless of its stage of development or role in the supply chain. |  |
Medical Cannabis Stakeholder Support Program
Successful medical cannabis policies and programs require participation from all stakeholders. ASA provides educational information, support, and resources for patients, caregivers, cannabis providers, advocates, and medical professionals.
ASA Publications
Americans for Safe Access has created a series of publications to help medical cannabis stakeholders navigate the medical, legal, and political aspects of cannabis.
Cannabis Care Certification
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Cannabis Care Certification (CCC) is an online education program designed to help doctors provide the best care for legal medical cannabis patients and help patients get the most from their medical cannabis use. Recognized world experts have created CCC, which includes educational tools for medical professionals, patients, and their caregivers to better understand the role of cannabis therapeutics through a structured learning environment. CCC was designed to help companies meet state requirements for patient medical cannabis education |
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