Press Releases
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.”
David Mangone
House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Banking Access for Cannabis-Related Businesses - Americans for Safe Access
Representatives Tackle Safety Issues, the Business Environment, and Patient Access, and Discuss the Draft of the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act of 2019
CONTACT: David Mangone, david@safeaccessnow.org, 202-618-6975
WASHINGTON, DC – On February 13, The House Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions held a hearing entitled “Challenges and Solutions: Access to Banking Services for Cannabis-Related Businesses.” Witnesses included Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07); the Honorable Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer; Maj. Neill Franklin (Ret.) of the Baltimore City and Maryland State Police Departments, currently the Executive Director of Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP); Ms. Rachel Pross, Chief Risk Officer, Maps Credit Union, on behalf of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA); Mr. Gregory S. Deckard, President, CEO, and Chairman of State Bank Northwest, on behalf of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA); Mr. Corey Barnette, the owner of District Growers Cultivation Center and the medical cannabis dispensary Metropolitan Wellness Center; and Mr. Jonathan H. Talcott, Chairman of the Board of Smart Approaches to Marijuana.
David Mangone
U.S. Pain Foundation, Partner of Americans for Safe Access, Testifies about Managing Pain During the Opioid Crisis - Americans for Safe Access
Senators Press Witnesses About Usefulness of Medical Cannabis
CONTACT: David Mangone, david@safeaccessnow.org, 202-618-6975
WASHINGTON, DC – On February 12, The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee held a hearing entitled “Managing Pain During the Opioid Crisis.” Witnesses included Dr. Andrew Coop, PhD from the Maryland School of Pharmacy, Cindy Steinberg, the U.S. Pain Foundation’s National Director of Policy and Advocacy, Dr. Halena Gazelka, MD of the Mayo Clinic, and Dr. Anuradha Rao-Patel, MD of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.
Debbie Churgai
WHO Announces Scientific Consensus on Medical Cannabis - Americans for Safe Access
Contact: Debbie Churgai, Debbie@safeaccessnow.org 240.893.2153
World Health Organization Announces Scientific Consensus on Medical Cannabis
Medical Cannabis Policy Now in the Hands of UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs
Geneva, Switzerland -- In an historic statement published today, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that cannabis and cannabis resin be removed from Schedule IV of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. This would represent a major step forward in the medical use of cannabis worldwide since no government, including the U.S., can now refer to international treaty obligations as a reason for prohibition of the medical use of cannabis. Moreover, in line with the provisions of the Single Convention, governments would now be obliged to ensure the adequate availability of cannabis for the relief of pain and suffering of patients in their countries.
Reenal Doshi
Americans for Safe Access to Hold Event to Raise Awareness of Opioid Crisis; Suggests Medical Cannabis as Safer Alternative - Americans for Safe Access
CONTACT: Reenal Doshi, Reenal@safeaccessnow.org, 240.893.2153 x.4
Americans for Safe Access to Hold Event to Raise Awareness of Opioid Crisis; Suggests Medical Cannabis as Safer Alternative
WASHINGTON, DC – Friday, January 25, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) will hold an event to raise awareness of the life-saving role that medical cannabis can play in the fight against the opioid epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 130 Americans die from an opioid overdose every day. In 2017, ASA partnered with the U.S. Pain Foundation to launch the End Pain, Not Lives (EPNL) campaign to address the root of the opioid epidemic in the United States. The goals of the campaign include removing barriers to access to treatment for people with pain, chronic pain, and opioid use disorder. The campaign also focuses on educating medical professionals, legislators, service providers, and patients about medical cannabis as a safer alternative for pain management.
David Mangone
Attorney General Nominee Calls on Congress to Create Federal Unified Policy on Cannabis - Americans for Safe Access
Pledges Not to Interfere with State Legal Cannabis Businesses
Contact: David Mangone | david@safeaccessnow.org | 202-857-4272 ext. 5
Washington, DC — During his Senate confirmation hearings today, the Attorney General nominee to replace Jeff Sessions, William Barr, indicated that he doesn't plan on using Department of Justice resources to prosecute cannabis businesses that are compliant with state law. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) all questioned Barr about cannabis policy.
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