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Movement on Medical Cannabis at the Federal level? Let’s Keep the Momentum Going!

On December 2, 2022, President Biden signed the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Act  into law. As patient advocates, we appreciate the steps taken by Congress in passing this bill. It is our hope that this is Congress’ way of getting the ball rolling.

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On November 16, 2022, the Senate approved the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Act, which previously passed the house in July 2022. This bill is the first ever standalone cannabis reform bill that has passed Congress.

The bill is now headed to President Biden’s desk for signature. If signed, this legislation will ease federal restrictions on cannabis research. This bill streamlines the application process for researchers, and allows higher quantities of cannabis for research purposes.

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Prior to the election, there were 19 states that allowed both recreational adult use and medical cannabis, 29 allowing medical cannabis only, and 2 states with a total prohibition on cannabis. Electors in five states, Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota, had cannabis-related ballot measures to consider yesterday. Each of the states already have an established medical cannabis law so the ballot questions were largely focused on recreational use.

While these ballot measures did not focus on medical cannabis patients, there are still ways in which patients may be impacted. Whether a ballot measure passed or not, it is still critical for patient advocates to continue fighting for improved access in their state. And for advocates in states with newly approved cannabis ballot measures, it is more important than ever to stay involved and ensure that the recreational market is regulated separately from the medical market, preserving patient access and protections that are already enjoyed in the state.

Yesterday, votes were cast across the nation not only for state ballot measures and local policymakers, but for federal representatives and senators, and in turn control of Congress. This blog post focuses on the state ballot measure results only.

While Election Day is only one day of the year, often vote tabulations take longer. Because of this, at the time of publication of the blog, we still do not know the winners for a number of key federal seats. What we do know so far is that a number of winning candidates, including Senator-elect John Fetterman, Senator Brian Schatz, Representative Brian Mast, and Representative David Joyce, have been outspoken advocates for medical cannabis access, and that medical cannabis remains a bipartisan issue, with supporters on both sides of the aisle.

We don’t yet know the final makeup of the 118th Congress, or whether there will be a change in chamber leadership. The final results and chamber party alignment will determine the shape of policy making for the next two years. ASA is keeping a close eye on federal election results and will be publishing a separate blog addressing what the federal results mean for medical patients once we know more. Keep an eye out for that blog!

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I became passionate about medical cannabis when I saw remarkable results using cannabis in treating my son Zach’s severe refractory epilepsy. He went from sleeping most of every day, barely speaking or comprehending being spoken to, having a life filled with seizures, to being alert, interactive, and seizure free for most of the year. My passion drove me to pursue a Master’s degree in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics and to pursue a career in advocacy helping other families like my own.

I started volunteering some time for Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the country’s largest non-profit patient advocacy organization promoting safe and legal access to medical cannabis. Helping to secure funding for an organization that has done so much to help patients was an honor and an exciting opportunity I couldn’t wait to make the most of. However, I was surprised to find that an industry that was struggling because of constraints like 280e and lack of interstate commerce had a much more narrow focus which centers on marketing efforts to drive profits, rather than focusing on removing these barriers to profitability.

After weeks of being turned down again and again from major businesses, I felt alone and discouraged. I had heard a friend of mine remind folks that industry stands on the shoulders of advocates, but accepting that boards of directors of major cannabis and ancillary companies are perfectly willing to let struggling advocates bear the load alone was a hard pill to swallow.  What a shame to stand on the shoulders of adults and children that are challenged to stand at all!  Images of activists rolling up a hill in wheelchairs, and moms and dads carrying their children, sometimes stopping to deal with seizures or other disease related difficulties, with a select few from industry helping to push a heavy load up the hill replayed through my mind. All the while, boards of directors, armed with what they need, funding, cheering them on from the sidelines, seeing them weary from the fight, but not willing to pitch in, just waiting for the work to be done.  As a mom that is just doing whatever I can do to help her son, I decided I needed to bring back the focus to patients and create more awareness of this issue that was so near and dear to my heart.

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The latest issue of the ASA Activist Newsletter is out with the news you need to stay informed and be an effective advocate. Learn about why your vote matters for cannabis reform, the latest on how to get a scholarship to ASA's 10th annual Unity conference in DC, and President Biden's cannabis possession pardons and call for rescheduling. 

In the monthly activist profile, you'll hear the compelling story of how Kent Morrell of Tennessee found relief from devastating chronic pain and then turned to running for elected office as a way to spread the word about the life-saving potential of cannabis. 

There's also a link that lets you contribute to contribute to ASA's influential State of the States report by completing a short survey of your local experience of medical cannabis access.

Each month, the ASA Activist Newsletter covers important federal, state and local developments, what's happening with ASA, and inspiring stories of local activists. Subscribe today to have it delivered via email, or you can read it each month here on ASA's website.

 

With August Recess starting, Congress members are leaving DC and returning home for a month of work. This is the perfect opportunity to meet with them and tell your story about how important medical cannabis is to you. Last week we posted a blog on how to schedule an August recess meeting, so take a look if you missed it.

Talking to a member of Congress or their staff should not be a scary thing - YOU are the expert in this conversation! Sometimes during August recess Congress members will be able to meet with you directly. If you are scheduled to meet with a staffer instead of the member, that is ok and normal! Staffers are the wheels that make Congress turn and they are responsible for educating the member on various issues. Talking to a staffer is just as important as talking to the member so please do not be discouraged if you are not meeting directly with your representative.

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With just a few weeks left of summer, Congress is taking its annual August Recess break. Often when advocates think of meeting their representatives they imagine needing to travel to Washington, DC and meet with them in the halls of Congress. The August Recess break is the perfect opportunity for cannabis advocates, like you, to schedule meetings with your representatives and senators in their home office. Your representatives and senators will be working at their district offices throughout the month so it is the perfect opportunity to have your voice heard without needing to travel to DC.

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Happy Birthday ASA!

I am so humbled by all that we have accomplished together over the last 20 years. When we started Americans for Access, we were facing paramilitary style raids from the DEA, only 8 states had passed laws creating criminal exemptions for medical cannabis patients, the DEA was still saying that cannabis was a gateway drug and there was no legal access anywhere!

And look at the world that you have helped create!

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The issue of adulterants in cannabis vape products has once again resurfaced as the Pennsylvania Office of Medical Marijuana issued a notice to medical cannabis patients on February 4, 2022 advising them of a recall of over 500 different products containing substances not suitable for inhalation. The problem was first brought to light when the VAPI (vaping associated pulmonary injury) crisis occurred in 2019, which sickened over 2,800 people and killed at least 68. The source of the outbreak was linked to the use of Vitamin E acetate and other diluents that are more likely to be found in illicit market vapes than legal market products.

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