Press Releases
Reenal Doshi
Montana Laboratory Achieves National Certification - Americans for Safe Access
Olney, MT – Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is pleased to announce that Stillwater Laboratory of Olney, MT has been certified for laboratory analysis of cannabis products under ASA’s Patient Focused Certification (PFC) program and ISO/IEC 17025 through a dual accreditation program conducted with the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA). PFC is a project of ASA and is the only nonprofit, third-party certification program for the cannabis industry based on quality standards issued by the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) and the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP).
Reenal Doshi
Americans for Safe Access and Aurelius Data Join Forces to Create a Research Platform to Benefit Cannabis Patients - Americans for Safe Access
Washington, D.C. - Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the leading advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring safe and legal access to cannabis (marijuana) for therapeutic use and research, and Aurelius Data, Inc.(AD), the premier patient perception big data company, and announced a bold new partnership to gather and analyze millions of data points from cannabis patients.
Reenal Doshi
Americans for Safe Access Releases Patient’s Guide to CBD - Americans for Safe Access
Contact: Reenal Doshi, reenal@safeaccessnow.org, (202) 857-4272 x. 4
Washington, DC — Americans for Safe Access (ASA) has released the Patient’s Guide to CBD in response to the May 31 public hearing at the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) regarding products containing cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds. During the hearing, ASA was one of nearly 140 speakers chosen to formally present scientific information with slides and data about cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD), and other cannabis compounds at the hearing.
The Patient’s Guide to CBD is a comprehensive resource that covers a wide range of topics, including, available forms for use, what to look for on package labels, how to read a certificate of analysis, how CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system, the current state of research, the compound’s legal status, and how to talk to one’s doctor about CBD.
Sean Khalepari
Americans for Safe Access Selected to Influence FDA Policy - Americans for Safe Access
Contact: Sean Khalepari | sean@safeaccessnow.org
Washington, DC — On May 31, 2019 the FDA will be holding a public hearing to collect scientific information and data on cannabis and cannabis derived products. In holding this hearing, the FDA is seeking public input on topics including health & safety risks, manufacturing & product quality, and marketing, labeling and sales. The FDA hearing on Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis-Derived Compounds is scheduled from 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
David Mangone
Colorado Joins Americans for Safe Access End Pain, Not Lives Campaign - Americans for Safe Access
Contact: David Mangone | david@safeaccessnow.org
Law Passed Allowing Doctors to Recommend Cannabis Instead of Opioids
Washington, DC — Governor Jared Polis has signed into law SB-013, a bill that allows Colorado physicians to authorize individuals to use medical cannabis instead of opioids, including for acute pain. The bill also removes specific specialist requirements for physicians for minor patients and allows minor patients to consume non-smokable forms of cannabis on school grounds. The law will go into effect on August 2, 2019.
David Mangone
Veterans Affairs Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Cannabis Legislation - Americans for Safe Access
Veterans Move One Step Closer to Medical Cannabis Access
Washington, DC— The health subcommittee of the Veterans Affairs heard testimony on three medical cannabis bills, the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2019 (H.R. 712), Veterans Cannabis Use for Safe Healing Act (H.R. 2191), and The Veterans Equal Access Act (H.R. 1647). This trio of bills will greatly improve medical cannabis access for veterans. These bills, while opposed by the VA were supported by many Veterans Service Organizations including the Iraq Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans. This hearing marks the first non-appropriations sub-committee hearing on the issue of veterans medical cannabis access of the 116th Congress.
Reenal Doshi
Americans for Safe Access Board of Directors Congratulates Steph Sherer for Her New Position as President of the International Cannabis and Cannabinoids Institute (ICCI) - Americans for Safe Access
Americans for Safe Access (ASA) Board of Directors is proud to announce that ASA Founder and President of the ASA Board, Steph Sherer, has been made President of the International Cannabis and Cannabinoids Institute (ICCI) in Prague, Czech Republic.
Co-founded by Sherer in 2015, ICCI is a recognized Center of Excellence and works closely with international governments, universities, and research institutes as well as companies in cannabis, hemp, bio-tech, and agricultural sectors to strengthen the medical cannabis industry. ICCI was founded as a joint project of patient organizations, scientific societies, and American investment company Dioscorides Global Holdings.
Since 2002, Sherer, a leading national and international expert on medical cannabis, has helped to pass medical cannabis legislation and regulatory policy across the U.S. and its territories through ASA, the largest nonprofit organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists, and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research. Sherer remains President of ASA and is expanding her focus to strengthen the industry.
Reenal Doshi
Americans for Safe Access Announces New Board of Directors - Americans for Safe Access
WASHINGTON, DC – Americans for Safe Access (ASA) has announced its new Board of Directors for 2019. The new Board of Directors convened during ASA's annual National Medical Cannabis Unity conference, which was held in Washington, DC March 18-20. The Board includes physicians, patients, researchers, industry professionals, a U.S. Air Force veteran, Ben Bronfman, Dr. Olga Obie, and Nic Easley.
David Mangone
Georgia Legislature Passes Georgia’s Hope Act - Americans for Safe Access
Contact: David Mangone | david@safeaccessnow.org | 202-618-6975
Georgia Poised to Allow In-State Production of Medical Cannabis Oil
WASHINGTON, DC — Late in the evening of April 2, the Georgia Legislature approved a bill that would allow for the in-state cultivation and production of medical cannabis. The bill passed by a vote of 147-16 in the House and 34-20 in the Senate. The bill still limits the amount of THC content that patients can possess, but allows in-state facilities to produce medicine. This marks a significant change from previous policy, where medical cannabis patients had to cross state lines to obtain their medical cannabis products.
Reenal Doshi
House Financial Services Committee Passes SAFE Banking Act (45-15) - Americans for Safe Access
House committee passes historic legislation to grant state-legal cannabis-related businesses and their service providers access to financial institutions and services. Companion legislation in the Senate expected soon.
WASHINGTON, DC – On March 28, the House Financial Services Committee voted in favor of the Secure And Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act of 2019. The bill would create protections for depository institutions that provide financial services to legitimate cannabis-related businesses, their service providers, and some ancillary businesses, thereby granting state-legal cannabis-related businesses access to the same financial institutions and services upon which other types of business rely. “A vote in the full House has yet to be scheduled, but it is our hope that the bill will make it to the floor relatively quickly,” said Americans for Safe Access (ASA) President and Founder Steph Sherer. Earlier this week, Rep. James McGovern (D-MA), chair of the House Rules Committee, stated “We will guide it to the House floor for a vote, which I think it will pass with an overwhelming vote -- Democrats and a lot of Republicans as well. [...] I think if we have a strong bipartisan vote, that’ll increase the pressure on the Senate to do something.”
State Advocacy Resources
