Press Releases

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

Three remaining Kettle Falls Five defendants found guilty of manufacturing less than 100 plants, likely to appeal

Paul Marini | March 03, 2015

Spokane, WA -- In an unexpected verdict today, the jury in a widely watched federal medical marijuana case from eastern Washington State, known as the Kettle Falls Five, acquitted the three remaining defendants of all but one charge of manufacturing...

Read more

Patient Focused Certification Program Director Kristin Nevedal will speak Saturday in Redway and Sunday in Laytonville on importance of product safety

Paul Marini | February 27, 2015

Redway & Laytonville, CA -- Multiple medical marijuana businesses from northern California -- Sonoma Lab Works and Peace in Medicine, with dispensaries in Sebastopol and Santa Rosa -- were certified earlier this month by Patient Focused Certification (PFC), a nationwide...

Read more

Three defendants now stand trial after dismissal of charges against cancer-stricken defendant, plea bargain by family friend

Paul Marini | February 26, 2015

Spokane, WA -- Trial began on Wednesday with jury selection and opening statements in a widely watched federal medical marijuana case against a family from eastern Washington State known as the Kettle Falls Five. Last week, amidst mounting pressure, the...

Read more

Patient Focused Certification Program Director Kristin Nevedal will speak Thursday to the Coalition for Cannabis Standards and Ethics

Paul Marini | February 25, 2015

Seattle, WA -- Two Washington State-based laboratories -- The Werc Shop and Phytalab -- have recently been certified under a nationwide program that verifies quality control standards, calibration, and evaluation processes for labs that test medical marijuana products. These certificates...

Read more

Government continues prosecution despite Congressional ban on interfering with implementation of state law

Paul Marini | February 24, 2015

Spokane, WA -- Trial starts Wednesday in a widely watched federal medical marijuana case from eastern Washington State known as the Kettle Falls Five. The Obama Administration is aggressively pursuing marijuana trafficking charges against a family of patients who claim...

Read more