While the longstanding federal prohibition on medical cannabis can frustrate state efforts, ASA has made tremendous progress on the state level in shaping medical cannabis policy. Thanks to ASA's efforts 38 states have comprehensive medical cannabis programs. ASA regularly contributes comments to pending language for state legislation and regulations to ensure that state programs are patient-focused, rather than profit focused.

ASA’s State Advocacy Project draws out strategic plans for improving safe access in individual states across the nation. This includes coordinating with diverse coalitions in each state, providing model state legislation and regulations, monitoring legislative and regulatory actions nation-wide, drafting and analyzing legislative and regulatory proposals with representatives and agencies and keeping our members informed about breaking develops.

Each year, ASA releases a State of the States Report that grades every state’s medical cannabis program to show state lawmakers where improvement is needed and works with advocates in the states to improve medical cannabis laws.

Learn more about state medical cannabis programs: