Press Releases

U.S. House Committee on Rules Blocks Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment

Washington D.C. --  Last night, the House Committee on Rules voted to not allow a floor vote on an amendment which would continue to prevent the Department of Justice from using funds to interfere with state medical marijuana programs.  The amendment, introduced by Representatives Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) has been part of the appropriations package since 2015.

The Massachusetts Medical Society, a leader in continuing medical education (CME) providing accredited and certified activities across the globe for physicians and other health care professionals, endorsed the TheAnswerPage.com Comprehensive Cannabis Curriculum, as their comprehensive curriculum on the endocannabinoid system and medical cannabis. This is among the highest validations for an endocannabinoid and medical cannabis curriculum.

U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Votes on Leahy Amendment

Washington D.C. -- This morning, the Senate Committee on Appropriations voted to include an amendment introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) in the FY2018 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The amendment prohibits the use of Federal funds to interfere with medical cannabis patients and programs that are in compliance with state medical cannabis laws.

Patient Organization Discourages Changes to the Cole Memo

Washington D.C. -- The Department of Justice’s marijuana subcommittee of the Crime Reduction and Public Safety Task Force was scheduled to issue recommendations to the Attorney General by July 27. However, according to the Justice Department these recommendations have been ongoing and will become available to the public as they are submitted. One item under potential review is the Cole Memorandum.

Washington D.C. --  This morning, the Senate Committee on Appropriations voted 24-7 to include an amendment introduced by Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) in the FY2018 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill.  The amendment allows military veterans to participate in state medical cannabis programs without fear of losing their military benefits or services and enables Department of Veterans Affairs health care providers to recommend medical cannabis in compliance with state medical cannabis laws.

Washington D.C. — A meeting scheduled by the President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis for this afternoon has been postponed until July 31, 2017. This is the second time the Commission has moved a meeting or call about the opioid crisis. The Commission was also scheduled to issue an interim report on June 27, but this deadline came and went without any announcement from the Commission. 

Free medical cannabis laboratory assessments offered in an effort to help decrease opioid use and associated fatalities.

Washington, DC – Across the nation, opioid-related deaths and fatalities are decreasing in states that have medical cannabis programs, but the benefits are limited due to a lack of accurately labeled and tested cannabis products. Patient Focused Certification (PFC), a project of Americans for Safe Access, announced today that it will begin offering free assessments and certification services for cannabis testing laboratories to help increase the number of safe and standardized medical products, in an effort to help combat the opioid epidemic.

Americans for Safe Access Submits Comments at Trump’s first official meeting to address drug addiction, opioid abuse

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, June 16th, Governor Chris Christie (NJ) will chair the first meeting of the President’s commision on Drug Addiction and Combating Opioid abuse. Christie is joined on the Commission by Gov Charlie Baker (MA), Gov. Roy Cooper (NC), Rep. Patrick Kennedy and Professor Bertha Madras, Ph.D.

Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect the States Bipartisan (CARERS) Act Introduced with Senators Booker, Lee, Paul, Murkowski, Gillibrand, and Franken

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Senator Al Franken (D-MN), and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the most comprehensive medical cannabis bill in the United States Senate to date. Several elected officials argue that CARERS, which has already garnered bipartisan support in the House and Senate, could be a solution to the nation’s opioid epidemic. The bill would also protect users of medical cannabis who comply with state laws from unwarranted federal prosecution and expand the opportunity for medical and scientific research on the uses and effects of medical cannabis.