The Cannabis and Cannabinoid Medicine Initiative (CCMI) is spearheading a transformative effort to integrate cannabis-based therapies into the U.S. healthcare system, aiming 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 (see below), 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.

 Rationale:

  • Cannabis-based therapies provide relief to millions of Americans, often serving as a crucial alternative when conventional treatments have failed or as a safer option compared to medications.
  • The most efficacious cannabis and cannabinoid therapeutics are currently only available outside of U.S. healthcare systems, creating significant barriers for individuals and medical professionals to utilize these treatments.
  • The FDA approval process does not currently accommodate plant-based medicines whose efficacy depends on multiple compounds. 

ASA Solution:

Americans for Safe Access (ASA) has developed a legislative proposal for a national medical cannabis program that introduces a new scheduling category for cannabis and cannabinoids, Schedule VI, and establishes the Office of Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoid Control (OMC) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The OMC would be entrusted with crafting and implementing regulations to facilitate the integration of cannabis treatments into the national healthcare infrastructure.

The OMC will possess the authority and resources necessary to coordinate federal agencies, harmonize product safety protocols, develop a centralized licensing and registration authority for the supply chain of all cannabis and cannabinoid products, including synthetic and isolates, and issue classification guidelines for OTC vs. controlled access products. Additionally, the OMC would issue product and system guidelines for compassionate use prescriptions and the framework for full-spectrum cannabis-based products to achieve evidence-based health claims.

ASA’s proposal introduces a new approach to medicine. Congressional and administrative buy-in will require active and visible support from U.S. healthcare stakeholders and regulators. This will require articulating the gaps in regulations between current state programs and the requirements of the U.S. healthcare infrastructure and mapping out how they will be bridged with guidance to government agencies.

CCMI Advisors: 

Stephen Dahmer, MD, Director-Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, Assistant Dean-College of Medicine-Tucson Wellness, Chief of Integrative Medicine-Department of Family & Community Medicine

Deondra Asike, MD, Clinical Associate, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Founder and CEO of National Pain Releaf

Dr. Codi Peterson, PharmD, Pediatric Pharmacist and Cannabis Science Expert

Dr. Melani Kane, PharmD Clinical Pharmacist: MTM & Cannabis Pharmacy, Co-founder & President International Society of Cannabis Pharmacists 

Leigh Vinocur, MD Founder & Chief Medical Officer Ananda Medical Practice & Consulting, National Spokesperson American College of Emergency Physicians

Steph Sherer, Founder & Executive Director of Americans for Safe Access 

Shay Bradshaw, PharmD, MS, Rare Disease Advocate, Board member Epilepsy Foundation MD

Dr. David (Dedi) Meiri, Associate Professor, Head, Laboratory of Cancer Biology & Cannabinoid Research, Faculty Biology & Technion Integrated Cancer Center Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

Claude Cyr, MD, Member Supportive and Palliative Care Division, McGill University Health Center. Founder of Doctors for Responsible Access

Pamela N. Epstein, Esq., LLM, Chief Legal & Regulatory Officer Terpene Belt, Inc., ASTM's D37 Committee for Cannabis and Hemp- Intoxication of Cannabinoids, Food Drug Law Institute (“FDLI”) Cannabinoid Committee

David Vaillencourt CEO & Founder The GMP Collective, Co-Founder S3 Collective

Mohammed Mustafa, MS Laboratory Manager, Virginia Commonwealth University, Founder Safe Access Virginia

Patricia Frye, MD Founder and Medical Director Tacoma Park Integrative Care, Board Member Society of Cannabis Clinicians

Ruth Charbonneau, RN JD Program Director, Graduate Cannabis Program, Associate Director, Lambert Center for the Study of Medicinal Cannabis and Hemp, IEHP, Institute of Emerging Health Professions (IEHP), College of Health Professions, Thomas Jefferson University (JCHP)

CCMI Objectives:

  1. Developing Guidelines: Create guidelines for transitioning cannabis and cannabinoid products into the U.S. medical infrastructure.
  2. Research Priority Map: Establish priorities for research that supports the integration of cannabis therapies.
  3. National Discourse: Establish a platform for national discourse on the future of cannabis therapeutics by uniting national support for a national medical cannabis program.
  4. Stakeholder Support: Build visible support among healthcare industry stakeholders.

Key Project Activities:

  • Generate Reports for Policymakers: Provide evidence-based recommendations and insights.
  • Proposal for integrating ECS education: Pre-med and medical school curriculum, CE standards 
  • Draft Standardization Guidelines: Formulate guidelines bridging the regulatory gap between existing state programs and national healthcare systems. 
    • Identify and recruit key stakeholders and cannabis experts, including patient organizations, medical professionals, medical associations, pharmacies, pharmacists, laboratories, drug distributors, hospitals, insurance companies, and researchers.
    • Create draft proposals for terminology, guidelines, and protocols based on stakeholder input and existing published or proposed guidelines from organizations, associations, and governments.
    • Engage sector-based working groups to refine and finalize recommendations for regulators.

Through these initiatives, CCMI aims to demonstrate a pathway for integrating cannabis-based therapies into U.S. healthcare systems.

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