Press Releases
Anna Zuccaro
Senate Committee Stands Up for Medical Cannabis Patients - Americans for Safe Access
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.
Anna Zuccaro
Americans for Safe Access Provides Sessions with Input on Cole Memo - Americans for Safe Access
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.
Anna Zuccaro
Senate Committee Stands up for Veterans Using Medical Cannabis - Americans for Safe Access
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.
Anna Zuccaro
Opioid Commision Delays Action - Americans for Safe Access
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.
Anna Zuccaro
International Laboratory Certification Program Offers Free Services for Laboratories To Help Address Opioid Epidemic - Americans for Safe Access
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.
Anna Zuccaro
Medical Cannabis Advocates Call on Trump Administration to Use all Tools Available to Fight Opiate Crisis - Americans for Safe Access
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.
Anna Zuccaro
Medical Marijuana Bill Introduced With New Sponsors, Improved Chance for Passage; Advocates Praise Legislation As ‘Critical’ - Americans for Safe Access
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.
Anna Zuccaro
International Cannabis Standards Committee Launched by ASTM and APHA - Americans for Safe Access
Americans for Safe Access’s Patient Focused Certification standards for medical marijuana accepted as foundational recommendations
Last week, global standards organization ASTM International and the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) announced that they will develop standards for the cannabis industry. Under the agreement, ASTM International will coordinate standards development activities for the cannabis industry, while AHPA will gain recognition for its technical contributions and regulatory recommendations. The AHPA standards are the basis of the Patient Focused Certification (PFC) program that is used internationally to assess regulatory compliance at medical cannabis operations, and to educate the medical cannabis industry and program administrators.
Anna Zuccaro
Physicians, Patients, Members of Americans for Safe Access Rally to Protect Access to Medical Cannabis in Maryland - Americans for Safe Access
Baltimore, MD — On Friday, June 2nd, physicians, cannabis industry professionals, and members of Americans for Safe Access will rally to protect patient access to medical cannabis throughout Maryland State. After more than four years since its legalization, medical cannabis patients are now months away from accessing prescribed medicinal cannabis in Maryland, unless Baltimore City Circuit Court decides to halt licensing of medical cannabis growers.
Marissa Valeri
Safe Access Tennessee Launches Grassroots Patient Membership Groups - Americans for Safe Access
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE -- Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the nation’s largest patient-focused medical cannabis advocacy organization, is pleased to announce new membership opportunities for medical cannabis patient advocates in Tennessee.
State Advocacy Resources
