Blog

Medical Cannabis: In Need of a Regulatory Model That Puts Patients First

Codi Peterson | January 13, 2025

As a pediatric emergency department pharmacist, I witness both the incredible potential of modern medicine and some of its most glaring gaps. One of those gaps is medical cannabis, which, in my opinion, is a tremendously underutilized tool. Even among...

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Returning to Elevate Patient Voices in the Next Era of Medical Cannabis, Will You Join me?

Steph Sherer | December 30, 2024

Nearly two decades ago, we founded Americans for Safe Access (ASA) to bring patients’ needs and voices out of the shadows and into the center of the national cannabis debate. Back then, patients were criminalized, stigmatized, and rarely heard—trotted out...

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Healthcare Leaders & Cannabis Experts Unite Behind Bold National Medical Cannabis Effort for 2025

Steph Sherer | December 13, 2024

Americans for Safe Access Founder Steph Sherer Returns to Lead the Initiative Washington, D.C. – Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is proud to announce the return of its founder, Steph Sherer, to the position of Executive Director. Sherer will lead...

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HHS Unlikely to Appear at Hearing, Despite DEA’s Challenging Findings & Threat of Subpoena

Steph Sherer | November 29, 2024

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) General Notice of Hearing (GNoH) state: "The purpose of a hearing would be to receive factual evidence and expert opinion regarding whether marijuana should be transferred to Schedule...

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5 Important Insights on the Cannabis Rescheduling Hearings

Steph Sherer | November 29, 2024

On Monday, December 2, 2024, at 9:30 a.m., formal hearings begin regarding the Department of Justice's (DOJ) notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to move cannabis to Schedule III. The hearing will be live streamed: www.DEA.gov/live.   What You Need to...

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THE POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT, CANNABIS POLICY & PATIENTS

Steph Sherer | November 17, 2024

While Presidential candidates’ positions on cannabis may make for good headlines, the reality is that, aside from signing legislation and directing federal agencies, the office of the President of the United States (POTUS) does not have the power to fundamentally...

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ASA POST-ELECTION DEBRIEF

Steph Sherer | November 06, 2024

Election 2024 is now behind us. Voters in another state (Nebraska) have put their support behind medical cannabis access for their residents, while voters in other states rejected adult-use cannabis programs. The Office of the President of the United States and the majority...

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RECALIBRATING FOR THE RESCHEDULED RESCHEDULING: 5 KEY INSIGHTS ON THE DEA DELAY

Steph Sherer | November 03, 2024

TAKE A BREATH   The Administrative Law Judge recently postponed the DEA’s highly anticipated rescheduling hearing and released the DEA’s witness list, prompting speculation, conspiracies, and anxiety about the delay and the agency’s next moves. Before you pull your hair...

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ASA Newsletter-October 2024: Election Edition

Steph Sherer | October 31, 2024

We are happy to present you with the   Election Edition of the ASA Monthly Newsletter! Americans for Safe Access launched the Compassionate Candidate Campaign to provide candidates in the 468 Congressional races in the 2024 Election information on policies...

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ELECTION 2024: 5 FACTS EVERY MEDICAL CANNABIS PATIENT ADVOCATE NEEDS TO KNOW

Steph Sherer | October 28, 2024

This election year, Capitol Hill buzzed with discussions about cannabis scheduling, hemp regulations, and the FDA’s evolving role in regulating cannabinoids. Yet, missing from these debates was one critical topic: the future of medical cannabis and protections for patients. As...

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