Office of the Executive Director

Steph Sherer, Founder and President

email: [email protected] 
phone: (202) 857-4272 

Steph Sherer is founder and President of Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the largest national member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists, and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.

Her direct experience with the medical benefits of cannabis and her political organizing background led Steph to form ASA in 2002 with the purpose of building a strong grassroots movement to protect patients and their rights. As a powerful advocate, a skilled spokesperson, and an energetic initiator of campaigns, Steph has trained over 100,000 individuals across the country on civic engagement.

Steph has become the foremost international leader and expert on medical cannabis patient advocacy and, alongside American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), has created the first industry standards in the areas of distribution, cultivation, analytics, and manufacturing, packaging and labeling.

Debbie Churgai, Executive Director

email: [email protected]
phone: (202) 618-6973

As the Executive Director, Debbie manages all day-to-day aspects of the organization, including ASA's Patient Focused Certification (PFC) and Cannabis Care Certification (CCC) programs. She has served as a writer, editor, and reviewer on many ASA publications including the Cannabis and Cannabis Resin Critical Review Document that was sent to the United Nations. Debbie first entered into the medical cannabis field by helping a company write their State license applications for cultivating and manufacturing medical cannabis. She worked in conjunction with horticulturists, physicians, and patient advocates and learned a great deal about the industry. She joined ASA in February of 2016 as the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director, Steph Sherer and quickly worked her way up to managing programs. Her previous work experience was in the Behavioral and Public Health fields working on projects in tobacco regulation and substance abuse prevention and treatment. She holds a Master’s degree in Psychology.

Operations

Geoffrey Marshall, Operations Manager

email: [email protected]
phone: (202) 618-6971

Geoffrey Marshall joined Americans For Safe Access as the Office and Membership assistant in 2015. He brings a dedication to organization and efficiency to the role, where he works to facilitate the organization’s operations and workflows. A graduate of The College of Idaho, Geoffrey’s background has largely focused in the world of non-profit development including time at the Marijuana Policy Project. His own experience with medical cannabis (beside the myriad of policy arguments) prompted his work with drug policy reform and cannabis legalization. He oversees web content, outreach, membership and helps ASA integrate new tech and practices.

Piper Lindeen, Development Coordinator

 

William Dolphin, Publications

email: [email protected]

William Dolphin produces ASA's Activist Newsletter and has been part of ASA's communications team since 2002. He is the co-author of The Medicalization of Marijuana: Legitimacy, Stigma, and the Patient Experience, an award-winning book of medical sociology, and has published hundreds of articles on cannabis and other topics. He has taught at a number of colleges and universities, including UC Berkeley, and is currently working on a book about cannabis use and mental health.

Paul Marini, Technical Director

email: [email protected]
[email protected]

Paul has been a part of ASA since its inception working in a variety of roles. Having gained experience in logistics through his involvement in the anti-globalization movement, Paul has been instrumental in ensuring the smooth operation of ASA. Now, his deep knowledge of full-stack web technologies and non-profit tools caters to the diverse needs of non-profit organizations, helping them achieve their mission and make a positive impact.

 

Benjamin Morrison, Senior IT Consultant 

email: [email protected] 

Benjamin Morrison specializes in nonprofit online infrastructure, including modern web design standards, mobile design optimization, online fundraising and online/social media marketing strategy. Formally trained in art history, ceramic arts and ceramic chemistry, Benjamin branched out into web design on the Nationbuilder and Modx platforms in 2009. Former clients include retail businesses, charitable nonprofits, non-partisan political nonprofits, and educational organizations nationwide.

His philosophy in web design is encompassed very well by his company’s slogan “Getting People Involved & Keeping People Involved." 

Program Staff

Don Duncan, California Director

email: [email protected]
phone: (202) 857-4272

Don Duncan has served on the Board of Directors since he co-founded American for Safe Access in 2002. As California Director, he is coordinating the grassroots and grasstops campaign to fully implement the states medical cannabis laws, respond to federal interference, and build a broader and more powerful coalition for medical cannabis in California. Mr. Duncan was instrumental in galvanizing grassroots resistance to federal raids and in seeding local self-regulatory alliances for medical cannabis providers statewide. He has worked closely with elected officials, law enforcement, collective operators, and community members in local implementation efforts in several California cities and counties, and is currently working with lawmakers in Sacramento to adopt legislation to expand rights for patients.

Mr. Duncan co-founded one of the oldest and most reputable families of medical cannabis dispensing collectives in California, helping to open legal facilities in Berkeley, West Hollywood, and Los Angeles. He is a leading consultant in the field of medical cannabis and has been featured in major media coverage, including 60 Minutes, Dan Rather Reports, Retirement Living TV, and the Los Angeles Times.

Amy Marasco, Volunteer & Field Coordinator

email: [email protected]
phone: (202) 618-6972

Amy Marasco is a forward-thinking and versatile professional with an extensive background in business development, team leadership, marketing, and systems consulting. She has always had a strong sense of social justice and has significant experience with political organizing and grassroots advocacy. She holds a Master of Science in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics and is completing her Doctorate in Health Sciences with a focus on policy and leadership. As a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach, Amy has been working exclusively with medical cannabis patients since 2019 and provides a supportive, evidence-based, whole-person approach to patient care. A dedicated and passionate advocate for medical cannabis patient rights, she believes it is vital to keep these rights at the forefront of legalization efforts and regulations.

 

Patient Focused Certification

Antonio Frazier, Interim PFC Director

Antonio Frazier is the president of Sonoma Lab Works. Formerly VP of Operations at CannaSafe, he made the business the first ISO licensed, and PFC certified, cannabis lab in the world, and the leading market shareholder in California. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Furman University, where and a B.S. in Materials Engineering from Clemson. Frazier began his career as a Nuclear Quality Engineer for the Tennessee Valley Authority, certifying and verifying the final construction of nuclear components. He then moved into aerospace engineering, performing quality assurance for the foundry, testing lab, heat treat, and special finishing departments for SKF USA (Baltimore). Frazier enjoys using his industrial, public safety-focused skillset to forge the standards of a burgeoning industry; cannabis is a huge bonus.