Tell Congress What Federal Cannabis Policy Changes Mean for Patients

The struggle for safe and legal access nationwide has just taken a major leap forward. But now Congress needs to hear from patients, caregivers, providers, veterans, and advocates about what these federal changes mean and what patients still need for our representatives in Congress.

Americans for Safe Access has prepared a new congressional briefing on the latest federal medical cannabis developments and the actions Congress should take through the FY2027 appropriations process. The briefing also explains why the Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoid Act is more important than ever in light of recent federal cannabis scheduling actions.

The goal is clear: federal recognition of medical cannabis must translate into real protections for patients, veterans, caregivers, healthcare providers, and state medical cannabis programs. Congress has an immediate opportunity to protect patients while laying the groundwork for a comprehensive national medical cannabis program. These changes are too important to leave to agency confusion, outdated stigma, or enforcement-only thinking.

The briefing covers the current federal landscape, including cannabis scheduling, the new administrative law judge hearing process, AG Order No. 6754-2026, patient rights and agency guidance needs, the CMS Substance Access update, and why Congress still needs to advance a national medical cannabis program through the MCCA.

Please take a moment to send the prepared email below to your members of Congress and share this action with your networks or your Organization's membership.

Utilize ASA Congressional Memos for your outreach to Congress!

ASA memos are designed to provide Congress and their staff with details about policy changes and decisions happening in DC, what they mean for patients, and actions members of Congress can take to advance medical cannabis policy. 

The Briefing Asks Congress to:

  • Retain the Medical Cannabis CJS Amendment and protect state medical cannabis programs from federal interference.
  • Remove appropriations riders that would block or undermine cannabis rescheduling.
  • Direct federal agencies to update outdated policies that still rely on obsolete Schedule I assumptions, including policies at HUD, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other federal agencies.
  • Require immediate patient-rights guidance under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, veterans’ healthcare policy, and federal workplace policy.
  • Establish an HHS Office of Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoid Control to coordinate national implementation, product safety, data standards, research, and healthcare integration.
  • Require CMS to study cost savings, coverage models, clinical outcomes, and implementation needs for medical cannabis within Medicare, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and federal healthcare systems.

Take Action: Email Your Members of Congress Now. 

The question before policymakers is no longer whether cannabis has medical value. The question is whether patients will have safe, consistent, and affordable access—or be stranded between executive signals and congressional inaction.

Patients should be at the table when decisions are made about our medicine. Let's make sure we get a seat! 

Personalize the template email below. The template language includes a link to the memo, so feel free to focus on how these policies affect you, or if you already have relationships with your Congressional offices, download the memo and send it directly to your contacts. DOWNLOAD ASA Congressional Briefing Memo

Thank you for helping ensure that federal medical cannabis policy is shaped by patients, healthcare needs, safety, and access.

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