Reclaim Cannabis Safety!

Posted by on September 09, 2026

"The cannabis community is used to being told what is wrong with cannabis. That story goes back to Reefer Madness, when fear and misinformation were used to justify prohibition and policies that harmed patients and communities. After fighting those narratives for so long, we developed an understandable reflex: when someone raises a cannabis safety concern, we defend cannabis. But tuning out legitimate concerns now, just as cannabis is moving closer to integration into healthcare and society, is starting to backfire."

In a new guest column for Beard Bros, ASA Founder and Executive Director Steph Sherer argues that the cannabis community cannot afford to surrender the subject of safety. Researchers, advocates, businesses, educators, journalists, and innovators are already developing solutions to real-world concerns—and making that work visible can strengthen public trust and the future of medical cannabis access.

The column also explores the purpose behind Cannabis Safety Month and the 2026 Cannabis Safety Awards: confronting legitimate concerns, spotlighting practical solutions, and recognizing the people turning cannabis safety challenges into progress.