Press Releases

Americans for Safe Access Announces New Agenda for California with New Advisory Group focusing on Improved Patient Access, Affordability, Equity, Product Safety and more

WASHINGTON, DC – Americans for Safe Access (ASA) announces the creation of The ASA California Advisory Committee (ASACAC). The ASACAC was formed as a result of a series of strategic meetings of ASA staff, representatives from California based chapters and affiliates, and California cannabis stakeholders facilitated by ASA in the fall of 2021. Participants in the meetings identified issues facing patients across the state of California including high prices, lack of patient-focused products, lack of consistency and availability of products, lack of pediatric access, lack of confidence in the safety of products, access deserts, drug testing, consumption restrictions, and lack of educated medical professionals. Participants in the meetings identified the causes of these issues, potential remedies and brainstormed strategies and tactics to tackle them including the creation of the ASACAC.

Americans for Safe Access and the International Cannabis Bar Association File Amicus Brief Regarding Joy Tea, LLC. 

Washington DC-- Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and the International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA) filed an Amicus Brief arguing that through the United States Patent Trademark Office’s (USPTO) per se application of the "lawful use requirement" to the cannabis industry, consumers are deprived of basic protections available to all other product sectors and also denies hemp and cannabis companies of trademark protection benefits.  

Americans for Safe Access Grades States on Patient Access, Affordability, Equity, Product Safety and More

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) unveiled their annual report, “2021 State of the States Report: An Analysis of Medical Cannabis Access in the United States.”

The report evaluates the effectiveness of each state cannabis program from a patient perspective and assigns a grade using a rubric that reflects the key issues affecting patient access broken down into over 100 categories, including barriers to access, civil protections, affordability, health and social equity, and product safety as well as penalties for harmful policies. ASA distributes the report each year to state legislators and regulators in every state, as well as hundreds of health organizations and patient organizations.

Mississippi Fails to Protect Patients and Provide for Equal Access

Washington, DC - On February 2, 2022, Governor Tate Reeves signed into law SB 2095, making Mississippi the 37th state to adopt medical cannabis laws. The adoption of these laws is the conclusion of a year-long struggle for the future of cannabis in Mississippi.

In November 2020, Mississippi voters overwhelmingly supported a ballot initiative (74.1% of votes in favor), which authorized the state’s department of health to create a medical cannabis program. The state's legislators rejected the measure, and instead sought to pass a weakened version of the law. On January 26, 2022, the state legislature passed SB 2095, their watered down vision for medical cannabis in Mississippi. 

Provides Healthcare Facilities Tools to Implement, Patients and Physicians Tools to Utilize

Washington, DC -- Today, Americans for Safe Access (ASA)  alerted all healthcare facilities in California that SB311 or “Ryan’s Law” will go into effect on January 1, 2022 and provided tools for facilities to  implement the law. This is part of a broader campaign to ensure smooth implementation state-wide. On September 28, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB311 into law, requiring healthcare facilities to allow the use of medical cannabis on their premises for terminally ill patients. The law applies to all healthcare facilities including: acute care hospitals, special hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, congregate living health facilities, and hospice providers. 

Washington, DC -- Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is pleased to announce the hiring of Abbey Roudebush, Esq. as the organization’s new director of Government Affairs. 

Washington, DC —  Americans for Safe Access’ PFC program has been approved by the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) as part of the Responsible Vendor Program. All owners, managers, and employees of dispensaries in Illinois are required to take 8-10 hours of mandatory training at hire and at least 2 hours of additional training each year after, and PFC has been approved to provide that training.

Washington, DC -- Americans for Safe Access (ASA) applauds the passage of H.R. 3617, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act (MORE Act), in the House Judiciary Committee today.

In December 2020, the MORE Act was passed on the full floor of the House of Representatives by a vote of 228 to 164, but was not considered for a vote on the Senate floor in the 116th Congress.

Washington, DC - Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and CannaKeys are partnering together to help broaden access to cannabis research and demystify the science of cannabis to support improved patient outcomes. As part of this partnership, all ASA members will receive a 30% discount on the CannaKeys 360 platform. In addition, ASA and CannaKeys will be working together on educational activities to help accelerate the use and safe adoption of cannabinoid therapeutics.