U.S. Senators Introduce Unprecedented Comprehensive Medical Marijuana Legislation Paul Marini | March 10, 2015 Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States (CARERS) Act. The bill is unprecedented in being the first comprehensive piece of medical marijuana legislation to be introduced... Read more
Medical Cannabis Groups from Thirteen Countries Form New "International Medical Cannabis Patient Coalition" to Reform UN Policy Paul Marini | March 09, 2015 Medical cannabis (marijuana) patients from thirteen countries, including those represented by U.S. advocacy group Americans for Safe Access (ASA), established theInternational Medical Cannabis Patient Coalition (IMCPC) this past week while at the "Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids: Policy, Research and Medical Practice"... Read more
CA cities: License, ban, or let voters decide? Paul Marini | March 09, 2015 California communities are still grappling with medical cannabis in the absence of a statewide licensing and regulation program. Dispensary applications in San Diego continue to move forward, clearing an important legal hurdle last week. Voters in Riverside and Yucca Valley... Read more
Read all about it in ASA's Activist Newsletter Paul Marini | March 07, 2015 ASA's latest Activist Newsletter is bursting at the seams with information for medical cannabis advocates. In this month's issue, you'll learn about the dramatic turn in the widely watched federal trial of the Kettle Falls Five, plus the new bill... Read more
Three remaining Kettle Falls Five defendants found guilty of manufacturing less than 100 plants, likely to appeal Paul Marini | March 04, 2015 In an unexpected verdict today, the jury in a widely watched federal medical marijuana case from eastern Washington State, known as the Kettle Falls Five, acquitted the three remaining defendants of all but one charge of manufacturing less than 100 marijuana plants.... Read more
Medical Marijuana: The Elephant in the Courtroom of the Kettle Falls Five Trial Paul Marini | March 02, 2015 On the third day of trial in the widely watched federal medical marijuana case of the Kettle Falls Five, the Department of Justice (DOJ) called several witnesses to help prove their case, including co-defendant Jason Zucker, who took a plea... Read more
Do you want to talk about medical cannabis in CA? Paul Marini | March 02, 2015 Do you want to talk to other patients, advocates, and professionals about medical cannabis in California? There is a lot to talk about! The campaign to pass the Medical Cannabis Organ Transplant Act is underway, and lawmakers in Sacramento have introduced eleven other bills related... Read more
Medical cannabis hearings in Annapolis this week! Paul Marini | March 01, 2015 This week, the Maryland legislature will be holding hearings on the medical cannabis bills introduced this session. Lucky for patients this year, almost all of the bills being heard are ones that ASA supports strongly. If you can, please try... Read more
Department of Justice persists despite recently adopted Congressional measure curbing DOJ enforcement in medical marijuana states Paul Marini | February 27, 2015 The trial of the Kettle Falls Five, a widely watched federal medical case against a family from eastern Washington, began on Wednesday with jury selection and opening arguments. After the second day and no end in sight for the prosecution,... Read more
Virginia Becomes 12th State to Add Patient Protections of CBD Extracts Paul Marini | February 26, 2015 Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe (D) signed a cannabidiol (CBD) extract affirmative defense bill earlier today, making Virginia the 12th state in the country to pass legal protections for patients with a medical necessity for CBD extracts. Today's bill signing now brings... Read more