Press Releases
Melissa Wilcox
Iowans Kick Off Statewide Campaign Targeting Senator Grassley on Medical Cannabis Vote Patient-Advocates Across the State go Door-to-Door to Drive Support - Americans for Safe Access
Urbandale, IOWA - Today, patients, caregivers, and advocates held a press conference to kick off a signature drive for a petition addressed to Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) asking him to give the Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States (CARERS) Act (S.683) a vote in the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rand Paul (R-KY), the bipartisan CARERS Act is the most comprehensive piece of medical cannabis (marijuana) legislation introduced in Congressional history. The bill, which has been gaining momentum in the Senate with Judiciary Committee members Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Al Franken (D-MN) recently signing on as co-sponsors, has been stalled in the Committee since its introduction in 2015, with Chairman Grassley refusing to bring the bill up for a vote.
Iowa State Representative John Forbes hosted the event stating, "Iowans and people around the nation are urging Senator Grassley to allow a vote to come before the Judiciary Committee to give them and their loved ones access to cannabis medication that could have a positive impact on their quality of life. It’s time for Senator Grassley to allow this bill to move through the legislative process."
Melissa Wilcox
Patient Advocacy Group Partners with Internationally-Recognized Accreditation Body - Americans for Safe Access
Washington, DC – Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) are excited to announce a collaboration to develop a cannabis specific laboratory accreditation program based upon the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 and ASA’ s Patient Focused Certification (PFC) Program. This joint accreditation program will be recognized by the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) by virtue of A2LA’ s status as an ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) signatory for the accreditation of laboratories to ISO/IEC 17025. This accreditation program will offer the highest level of recognition and provide the most value to the laboratory and users of the products tested.
Melissa Wilcox
Ohio Set to Become the 26th Medical Cannabis State - Americans for Safe Access
Washington DC - Late on Wednesday night, the Ohio Legislature passed a medical cannabis (marijuana) bill, HB 523, which would create a system of retail distribution in the state. The bill passed by a vote of 18-15 in the Senate, followed shortly by a 67-28 vote in the House.
Governor John Kasich (R) is expected to the sign the bill, which will make Ohio the 26th medical cannabis state and the 42nd state with either a medical cannabis or cannabidiol (CBD) law. This means that there are now more than 310 million Americans living in a state whose medical cannabis laws are out of alignment with the federal government.
Under the bill, patients would be able to purchase medical cannabis from dispensaries regulated by the Ohio Department of Commerce. There are currently 22 qualifying conditions under the bill, including chronic pain and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and new conditions can be added by the state medical board. Once signed by the governor, the department will be able to begin the regulatory and licensing process.
Mike Liszewski
U.S. House of Representatives Approves Amendment to Create Access for Veterans to Medical Cannabis - Americans for Safe Access
Washington DC - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve the Veterans Equal Access Amendment (VEAA) to the FY2017 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilConVA) Appropriations bill, which sets the budget for the Veterans Administration (VA). The amendment, which creates a path to medical cannabis therapy for veterans receiving their healthcare through the VA, was approved by a vote of 233-189 with 57 Republicans and 176 Democrats. The amendment was sponsored again by Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) with bipartisan co-sponsorship from Representatives Farr (D-CA), Gallego (D-AZ), Heck (R-NV), Lee (D-CA), Polis (D-CO), Reed (R-NY), Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Titus (D-CA).
@TalanaLattimer
Medical Marijuana Advocates Host Citizen Lobby Day in Sacramento - Americans for Safe Access
Sacramento, CA – Hundreds of patients, advocates, care providers, industry workers, and other stakeholders from around the State are convening in Sacramento on Monday to meet with their elected officials and urge them to protect patients' rights, defeat taxation measures, and support beneficial changes to the new Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (MMRSA).
Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the nation’s largest medical cannabis patients’ advocacy organization, is hosting its fifth annual legislative briefing and California Citizen Lobby Day to ensure that patients' voices are at the forefront as state policymakers debate several medical cannabis bills before the state legislature:
-
SB 987 (McGuire) - Adds a 15% excise tax on all medical cannabis sales in CA.
-
SB 1116 (McGuire) - Authorizes cities and counties to impose additional taxes patients who grow and use their own medicine.
-
AB 2740 (Low) - Makes it a crime to drive with any amount of cannabis detectable in your blood, even if you are not impaired.
-
AB 1575 (Bonta) - Adds new license types and makes other beneficial changes to the new Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act.
- And more
Elizabeth Collins
State Department States NIDA Monopoly on Research Marijuana Unnecessary - Americans for Safe Access
State Department Confirms Breaking Up NIDA Monopoly Does Not Violate UN Treaty
(Washington, D.C.) - The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement at the State Department has gone on record stating that the United States could issue multiple licenses for the cultivation of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes without violating the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs treaty. The statement came in response to a direct request from Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) regarding whether issuing multiple licenses to grow medical marijuana was a violation of the Single Convention. The State Department’s interpretation is at odds with that of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) which has always maintained that the treaty only allows a single license, which is granted to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). This has created what is referred to as the “NIDA monopoly on cannabis,” which has stalled medical cannabis research for years.
Elizabeth Collins
National Medical Cannabis Advocacy Group Partners with Leading Global Law Firm - Americans for Safe Access
(New York) - Orrick, a leading global law firm, is partnering with Americans for Safe Access’ Patients’ Rights Project to provide pro bono support to medical cannabis patients, many if not most of whom are low-income, to navigate the often confusing legal landscape of medical cannabis laws. Forty-one states, DC, Puerto Rico, and Guam all have some type of medical cannabis law today. Each law is unique and presents varying challenges for patients trying to obtain treatment in these often complex programs. Once laws are passed, medical cannabis patients and providers are often unclear about the specifics of the laws, which leaves them vulnerable to arrest, prosecution, and incarceration. Furthermore, implementation of these programs has often required litigation. The services provided by this partnership will help fill a growing void for this type of resource.
Mike Liszewski
Senate Panel Votes to Protect State Medical Marijuana Laws - Americans for Safe Access
(Washington, D.C.) Thursday morning, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved an amendment to the FY2017 Commerce, Justice, Science & Related Agencies Appropriations Act (CJS) to protect medical cannabis patients. The amendment, sponsored by Ranking Member Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), prohibits the Depart of Justice from spending funds to interfere with state medical cannabis programs and was approved with strong bipartisan support, 21-8. Last year, the committee approved a nearly identical amendment from Mikulski, with the only change being the addition of Pennsylvania to the list of protected states, bringing the total to 41 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam.
@TalanaLattimer
Multiple Nations Call for Reform in International Cannabis Policies at United Nations - Americans for Safe Access
(New York, NY) – The United Nation’s General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on drug policy began today with representatives and world leaders making strong statements urging member countries to move beyond prohibition and into effective regulations for medical Cannabis. H.E. Mogens Lykketoft, the current President of UNGASS, opened the event by discussing the need to address cannabis and the unfortunate situation where medical “cannabis laws defy the current conventions,” and that “...access to drugs for medical use is a human right to protect.”
Elizabeth Collins
Pennsylvania Becomes 24th State to Legalize Medical Cannabis - Americans for Safe Access
(Harrisburg, PA) – Yesterday, in front of a crowd of patients and advocates Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed SB 3, making Pennsylvania the 24th medical cannabis state in the country to adopt a comprehensive medical marijuana program. The bill, introduced by Senator Mike Folmer, passed the House of Representatives on April 13 in a vote of 149-46 after nearly a year of delays and debate on amendments, most of which were not ultimately included. The bill will allow patients, with cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, PTSD, seizures, autism, sickle cell anemia, and intractable pain obtain medical cannabis with a doctor’s recommendation.
State Advocacy Resources
