New DEA Leadership Clears Way For Rescheduling and Other Needed Reforms Paul Marini | April 22, 2015 WASHINGTON, DC- Several news reports have circulated suggesting that Michele Leonhart, administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), is resigning. Leonhart has been criticized by medical cannabis advocates as well as members of Congress for her unwillingness to adhere to... Read more
Americans for Safe Access to Host Advocate Discussion of CNN’s Weed 3 Paul Marini | April 20, 2015 WASHINGTON, DC- Last night Dr. Sanjay Gupta continued his groundbreaking reporting on medical marijuana with Weed 3, which continued to introduce Americans to new stories of patients benefiting from medical marijuana and document the challenges that continue to slow down... Read more
Americans for Safe Access to Host Advocate Discussion of CNN’s Weed 3 Paul Marini | April 17, 2015 WASHINGTON, DC- Over the last two years Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s reporting has been truly groundbreaking in mainstreaming the benefits of medical marijuana. Dr Gupta has brought stories of everyday Americans that obtain essential benefits from medical marijuana products into the... Read more
Access to Safe, Affordable Medicine Will Be Endangered If SB 5052 Becomes Law in Current Form Paul Marini | April 15, 2015 OLYMPIA, WA - Yesterday the Washington State Senate concurred on House amendments to Senate Bill 5052, which regulates medical cannabis. SB 5052 has now passed through the full Washington legislature meaning that the bill will now be sent to Governor... Read more
“Patient Protection Amendment” Would Ensure Continued Access to Safe, Affordable Medicine Paul Marini | April 10, 2015 OLYMPIA, WA - A bipartisan team of Washington State Representatives has introduced a sweeping amendment to Senate Bill 5052 ahead of an expected vote slated for Friday afternoon. The “Patient Protection Amendment” would make significant improvements to the bill, which... Read more
Groups convene in Washington, DC for third annual national medical cannabis conference March 27-31 Paul Marini | March 27, 2015 Washington, DC -- The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Cannabis Committee, in coordination with Americans for Safe Access (ASA), and the Hemp Industries Association (HIA), announces the release of a joint statement advocating for implementation of best practices for the... Read more
Scientists, patients, doctors, advocates, lawyers, policymakers unite to further advance public health policy reforms Paul Marini | March 24, 2015 Washington, D.C. -- The country's leading medical marijuana advocacy group, Americans for Safe Access (ASA), will hold its third annual national Unity Conference, "Wellness is Winning," in Washington, D.C. on March 27-31, 2015. The conference will highlight medical and legal... Read more
DOJ continues to waste tax dollars trying to lock up family of medical marijuana patients, despite acquittal of almost all charges Paul Marini | March 12, 2015 Spokane, WA -- Just one week after three medical marijuana patients were acquitted by a federal jury of all but one charge stemming from the widely watched Kettle Falls Five trial, US District Court Judge Thomas Rice rejected attempts by... Read more
Hundreds of patient advocates will gather in Washington, DC on March 31st to lobby for passage of Senate bill Paul Marini | March 10, 2015 Washington, DC -- Comprehensive medical marijuana legislation was introduced today in the US Senate for the first time in the country's history. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and... Read more
Coalition ratifies declaration this past week in Prague, urging the UN to reclassify cannabis plant for medical use Paul Marini | March 09, 2015 Prague, Czech Republic -- Medical cannabis (marijuana) patients from thirteen countries, including those represented by U.S. advocacy group Americans for Safe Access (ASA), established the International Medical Cannabis Patient Coalition (IMCPC) this past week while at the "Medical Cannabis and... Read more