Press Releases

Representative Sherry Appleton Joins With Coalition of Patient Advocates to Defend Washington’s Medical Cannabis Law

Paul Marini | January 13, 2014

Seattle, WA -- Patients, doctors and caregivers have formed a powerful coalition to keep medical cannabis from being eliminated in the face of Initiative 502 implementation -- and to prove they mean business, the group has introduced a bill on...

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Jose Gutierrez was brutally arrested in April 2012 during peaceful protests, then convicted of assault himself

Paul Marini | January 09, 2014

Oakland, CA -- A medical marijuana activist and journalist who was brutally arrested in April 2012 during federal raids on multiple licensed businesses in Oakland will be sentenced Friday. Despite video evidence of the brutality leveled against Jose Gutierrez, he...

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Independent certification will benefit patients, healthcare providers, and regulators implementing medical marijuana laws

Paul Marini | December 17, 2013

Washington, D.C. -- Patient advocacy group Americans for Safe Access (ASA) launched a new nationwide program today that will certify the quality and reliability of medical marijuana products sold at licensed businesses. Patient Focused Certification (PFC) is the only nonprofit,...

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Scientific data, standards put to rest the notion that medical marijuana is a dangerous drug with no medical value

Paul Marini | December 12, 2013

Washington, D.C. -- Patient advocacy group Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is hosting a Google Hangout today at 5:30pm PT (8:30pm ET) with a panel of leading medical and scientific experts to discuss by video the new cannabis monograph from...

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American Herbal Pharmacopoeia monograph lays scientific foundation for quality assurance and expanded research

Paul Marini | December 11, 2013

Washington, DC -- In an historic move, the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP) released the first installation of a two-part Cannabis monograph yesterday that classifies cannabis (marijuana) as a botanical medicine, alongside many other widely accepted Complementary and Alternative Medicines. Written and...

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Historic, unprecedented vote illustrates political strength, legitimacy of medical marijuana community

Paul Marini | December 04, 2013

Sebastopol, CA -- In an unprecedented move, the Sebastopol City Council voted yesterday to seat Vice Mayor and medical marijuana community leader Robert Jacob as Mayor of Sebastopol. Jacob, 36, founder and executive director of Peace in Medicine, two licensed...

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Patient advocates call on Congress to adopt binding changes to new federal policy

Paul Marini | November 25, 2013

Washington, DC -- Medical marijuana advocates Americans for Safe Access (ASA) issued a report today that analyzes the Obama Administration's latest enforcement guidelines for federal prosecutors in states that regulate medical marijuana distribution. The report, "Third Time the Charm? State...

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Stakeholders speak out to defend state's 15-year-old law and urge legislators to preserve, strengthen patients rights

Paul Marini | November 13, 2013

Seattle, WA -- Patient advocates and various stakeholders will hold a press conference today at 4pm at Saint Martin's University in Lacey to draw attention to this evening's statewide public hearing on the fate of Washington's 15-year-old medical marijuana law...

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Recommendations are part of statewide public comment period, culminating with Nov. 13th public hearing

Paul Marini | November 08, 2013

Seattle, WA -- Medical marijuana advocacy group Americans for Safe Access (ASA) filed recommendations yesterday for the Washington State legislature, based on a series of patient and provider stakeholder meetings held last week in Bellingham, Olympia, Seattle, Spokane, and Yakima....

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Arkansans for Compassionate Care kicks off campaign with music festival on November 9th in Eldorado, AR

Paul Marini | November 07, 2013

Little Rock, AR -- Medical marijuana advocates Arkansans for Compassionate Care (ACC) and Americans for Safe Access (ASA) have joined forces to put an initiative on the 2014 ballot. The Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act (AMCA) is a comprehensive blueprint for...

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