Press Releases

Americans for Safe Access Celebrates Historic Victory for Patient Access and Offers Perspective on Federal Policy, Patients’ Rights, State Implementation, and the Next Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. Americans for Safe Access (ASA), a national medical cannabis patient advocacy organization founded in 2002, welcomes today's announcement by the U.S. Department of Justice that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is moving forward with the initial issuance of federal registrations for more than 900 medical cannabis dispensaries across Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The announcement represents a major milestone in implementing the Attorney General's order establishing a federal regulatory pathway for qualifying state medical cannabis activities under Schedule III.

Steph Sherer, Founder and Executive Director of Americans for Safe Access, offers the following comments:

A Historic Victory for Patient Access and Federal Cannabis Policy

"For the first time, the federal government is recognizing and registering the medical cannabis dispensaries that patients fought to establish. This is a tremendous victory for patient access and an opportunity to build on 30 years of progress."

"Thirty years ago, patients turned to the states because Washington refused to recognize their medicine. Today, Washington is recognizing the very programs those patients built. As we approach the 30th anniversary of California's Proposition 215, it is hard to imagine a more powerful demonstration of how far patient advocacy has brought us."

What More Than 900 Registrations Mean for Patient Access

Based on available state data, the seven states collectively have roughly 1,100 medical cannabis dispensing locations, although licensing structures and reporting methods differ. Florida alone has nearly 800 locations, and Mississippi has approximately 175 to 200 licensed or operating dispensaries.

"More than 900 registrations in the first round is an encouraging sign that federal oversight and patient access can advance together. We don't know how many dispensaries applied or how many applications remain pending, but the scale of this announcement gives us real reason for optimism."

"Patients shouldn't have to start over every time cannabis policy changes. The strength of this new federal framework is that it builds on access systems patients and states have already spent decades creating."

What This Means for Patients and Their Rights

ASA has expanded its long-running Patients' Rights Campaign to the federal level, providing resources to help patients understand changes in federal law, assert applicable protections, and challenge discriminatory policies. Federal recognition creates opportunities to address longstanding barriers involving employment, housing, healthcare, and other essential services, although it does not automatically eliminate them.

"Patients fought for the right to access their medicine. Now we have an opportunity to build on that victory by strengthening the protections they need to live their lives without discrimination."

"Federal recognition is changing the conversation about medical cannabis. We can now focus on how to make that recognition work for patients in their homes, workplaces, hospitals, and everyday lives."

“More than 900 registrations in the first round is an encouraging sign that federal oversight and patient access can advance together. Six of the seven states have medical-only cannabis programs, while Virginia has not yet opened adult-use retail sales. We still need to see how DEA will handle applications from dispensaries that hold both medical and adult-use licenses. We hope DOJ and DEA will work with states to accommodate existing licensing structures, including supporting adjustments where needed, so patients can benefit from federal recognition without disruption to their access.”

What Comes Next for States

Today's announcement also raises important questions about implementation in states with both medical and adult-use cannabis programs, where patients often rely on shared facilities, licensing structures, and supply chains.

"The first seven states are showing us what is possible. The next challenge is making sure this opportunity reaches patients in states where medical and adult-use programs share facilities and supply chains. Federal registration should strengthen the access patients have, not force them to navigate unnecessary new barriers."

"States don't have to figure this out from scratch. ASA has been providing a roadmap for preparing state medical cannabis programs for federal regulation. Now we have an opportunity to put that preparation into action and help more states bring their medical programs into the federal framework."

What This Means for Congress and the 2026 Elections

ASA's proposed Medical Cannabis & Cannabinoid Act (MCCA) would build on federal rescheduling by establishing a new Schedule VI for cannabis and cannabinoids and creating an Office of Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoid Control within the Department of Health and Human Services to oversee a comprehensive national medical cannabis program.

"Congress doesn't have to start from scratch. Patients built the programs, states built the regulatory systems, and now the federal government is beginning to bring them together. The next step is creating a national framework that protects patients’ rights, strengthens product safety, and integrates cannabis into healthcare."

"With the elections just days away, candidates have an opportunity to show how they will build on this historic progress. ASA's Compassionate Candidate Campaign gives candidates from every political party a way to commit to the next phase of medical cannabis reform."

"Thirty years after Proposition 215, the question is no longer whether patients can build successful medical cannabis programs. They already have. The opportunity before us is to make that progress permanent and ensure every patient can benefit."

Resources for Reporters

DOJ Announcement:
www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-issuance-federal-registrations-medical-marijuana-dispensaries

ASA Federal Patients' Rights Campaign:
www.safeaccessnow.org/medical_cannabis_patients_assert_your_new_federal_rights

ASA State Preparedness Recommendations:
www.safeaccessnow.org/states_federal_cannabis_regulation_enforcement

Medical Cannabis & Cannabinoid Act:
www.safeaccessnow.org/fedlegkit

Compassionate Candidate Campaign:
www.safeaccessnow.org/vote4compassionate_candidates

Media Contact:
Americans for Safe Access
[email protected]

About Americans for Safe Access

Founded in 2002, Americans for Safe Access is a national organization dedicated to ensuring safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research through education, advocacy, policy reform, and patient empowerment.