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Last week ASA submitted our comment letter to the offices of Senate Majority Leader Schumer (D-NY), and Senators Booker (D-NJ) and Wyden (D-OR) on their draft cannabis reform legislation known as the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA). Released on July 14, the proposed bill would address a wide range of issues ranging from the conflict of laws between the federal and state governments on cannabis to research and restorative justice.

The bill represents an ambitious step forward in federal cannabis policy reform, offering the most comprehensive approach yet contemplated by federal lawmakers, however misses the mark completely on patient needs. Not surprisingly, our comments were focused on conveying patient priorities, specifically:

On July 14, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced the long-awaited introduction of comprehensive federal cannabis reform legislation – the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA). The discussion draft was introduced in partnership with Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), and offers reform proposals to address a wide range of issues ranging from the conflict of laws between the federal and state governments on cannabis to research and restorative justice. While the bill represents an ambitious step forward in federal cannabis policy reform, offering the most comprehensive approach yet contemplated by federal lawmakers with the backing of the highest-ranking elected member of the Senate, we believe there is more work that can be done to protect patients. The three Senate offices are taking public comment on the draft until September 1. ASA is preparing a letter to submit with additional recommendations. Below is a short summary of the current measure.

A common challenge patients often experience when adult-use laws are adopted in their state is that legislative and regulatory improvements to medical cannabis programs are suspended while states pivot to organize adult-use models. As states continue to update laws regarding adult-use, it is imperative that they continue to prioritize policies that affect patients.

Check out the July 2021 issue of the ASA Activist Newsletter to find out about the long-awaited Senate cannabis legalization proposal and what ASA is doing to shape it to meet patient needs. You'll also read about what ASA is doing to get changes in cannabis drug testing so positive drug tests don't end anyone's career or Olympic dreams. 

The July newsletter includes announcements about ASA's launch of a new PFC training platform, upcoming in-person events with ASA staff, and a new partnership with the Cannabis Patient Care multimedia platform that includes free access for all ASA members!

In the activist profile, you'll learn about Mike Graglia of Palo Alto, California, a rare-disease advocate who shares the story of finding the right cannabis medicine for his young son, Tony, and how he successfully fought for him to be able to take it at school. 

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.

Alongside his colleagues Cory Booker and Ron Wyden, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced a draft bill titled: “Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act” (CAOA). As a draft, the bill invites input from other members of Congress, stakeholder organizations like ASA, and the public to make suggestions which would improve the efficacy of the bill before the final draft is introduced after September 1, 2021.

During the Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon, Sha’Carri Richardson won the 100 meter dash with a time of 10.86 seconds. That earned her a spot on the U.S. Olympic team for the upcoming Tokyo games, where she would be the favorite for gold in the 100 meter dash. But Richardson tested positive for cannabis--not during competition but from two days before. Since cannabis is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, she received a 30 day suspension from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and was stripped of her win at the Olympic trials. Though her suspension ends two days before the Olympic games start, there won’t be another opportunity to qualify beforehand, and the coaching staff decided to leave her off the relay team.

The June 2021 ASA Activist Newsletter is now out. Our lead story is the reintroduction of the MORE Act, the most comprehensive cannabis reform bill ever to go before Congress. Also Amazon announced its public policy team will be lobbying for the MORE Act, and they are stopping most pre-employment testing for cannabis use.

You will also find news on developments in Connecticut and Texas, as well as opportunities to participate in upcoming events where ASA Executive Director Debbie Churgai will be speaking. The activist profile is Michelle Herman of Massachusetts, who shares her inspiring story of caregiving and advocacy for her young daughter.

Each month, Americans for Safe Access publishes a newsletter for advocates that covers important federal, state and local developments, what's happening with ASA, and inspiring stories of local activists. Delivered via email to subscribers, you can also see it each month here on ASA's website.

While mainstream culture in the U.S. has come to accept cannabis as not the dangerous and addictive substance of after school special legend, general public knowledge about the plant remains fairly low. Cannabis is a complex plant, and decades of research have been able to pull back the curtains on fascinating mysteries behind its inner workings.

Here, we wanted to shed light on some things about cannabis that even an educated patient might not know!

When then presidential candidate Joe Biden released his approach to federal cannabis policy in May of 2020, it marked the first time in history a major party presidential candidate included a cannabis-specific policy goal in their campaign. The announcement was met with excitement by medical cannabis patients, doctors and researchers who have all waited far too long for cannabis policy reform.  

After the Biden-Harris victory, we took their campaign promises to heart and under our No Patient Left Behind campaign created the ‘Biden-Harris Can Do It!’ action items, highlighting actions that the administration could accomplish to uphold their campaign promises to move cannabis policy forward.