Advocates

The patient-centered organization announced its 2025 plans for medical cannabis at the national level.

Panelists discussed the impacts of cannabis as a schedule 3 substance on research, legislation, patients, and more.

As discussions about the federal scheduling of cannabis continue, efforts by medical cannabis advocates are intensifying. One such advocate is Americans for Safe Access (ASA), a nonprofit organization founded by patients for patients. Since 2002, ASA has been championing the rights of medical cannabis patients and has recently launched new campaigns and strategies to refocus attention on patient needs. In this interview, Steph Sherer, founder and president of ASA, reflects on past successes in medical cannabis advocacy, shares her perspective on recent cannabis and hemp policymaking, and outlines the next steps for advancing a unified medical cannabis message on Capitol Hill—a message that could bring about the changes patients have long awaited.

The latest webinar in this series explored challenges and solutions in the current and future landscape of cannabis policies and regulation.

A look at the advocacy and guidance conducted by the ACIL within the cannabis industry.

On February 2nd, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) held an editorial/press briefing to present their 2022 State of the States report, which graded each US state and four territories on patient access to cannabis. ASA is the nation’s largest member-based organization promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.

In celebration of their 20th anniversary, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) held their 10th annual Unity Conference virtually from December 12-14, 2022. Here we present coverage of the third and final day of the conference.

In celebration of their 20th anniversary, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) held their 10th annual Unity Conference virtually from December 12-14, 2022. Here we present coverage of the second day of the conference.

In celebration of their 20th anniversary, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) held their 10th annual Unity Conference virtually from December 12-14, 2022.

For more than 20 years, Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the largest national member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists, and citizens, have been advocating for cannabis to be seen as a form of medicine. Here, Steph Sherer and Debbie Churgai of ASA discuss the importance of medical cannabis and how advocacy will light the way forward.

Rylie Maedler shares her amazing journey from pediatric patient to teenage advocate. As a child, she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer with a high recurrence rate and, through treatment with cannabis, is now in remission. Here, she shares her incredible story to change laws and hearts with her powerful message.

When a patient isn’t able to access the care or medication that they need in their home country, they aren’t left with much of a choice but to travel to a country that will give them the treatment they need. In part II of this interview series, Nikki Lawley, founder of Nikki and the Plant, LLC, and retired licensed practical nurse (LPN), continues discussing her journey to health, the broken healthcare system hurting medical cannabis patients in the US, and what needs to change to make access better for patients.

Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is a non-profit dedicated to ensuring safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research. ASA was founded in 2002 by medical cannabis patient, Steph Sherer, as a vehicle for patients to advocate for the acceptance of cannabis as medicine. ASA has local chapters throughout the United States, and in this series of interviews, we introduce you to those chapters and highlight some of the state-level work being done to advocate for patients’ access and rights. In this installment, Nico Murillo, the chair of the Dallas, Texas chapter, shares some advocacy highlights from the lone star state.

ASA has local chapters throughout the United States and in this new series of interviews, we will be introducing you to those chapters and highlighting some of the state-level work being done to advocate for patient’s access and rights. In our second installment, we introduce the San Diego ASA chapter.

Nurse Practitioner Me Fuimaono-Poe discusses how becoming an advocate and assisting with legislation are the best tools to help your state, community, and yourself gain access to cannabis and help others.

ASA has local chapters throughout the United States and in this new series of interviews, we will be introducing you to those chapters and highlighting some of the state-level work being done to advocate for patient’s access and rights. In our first installment, we introduce the Bay Area ASA chapter.

What more needs to be done for patient rights, protections, and access to cannabis in the United States? In this interview, Abbey Roudebush, Director of Government Affairs for Americans for Safe Access (ASA), explains the goals of ASA and provides an in-depth analysis of their annual State of the States report. She explains why medical cannabis access is a pertinent issue, the myriad obstacles patients still face in securing protections, and how to advocate for the rights of medical cannabis patients.

As a veteran, RN, and PTSD survivor, Cherissa Jackson has made it her mission to educate veterans about PTSD and cannabis as a treatment option and to create inclusivity for women veterans.

What role can medical cannabis play in a breast cancer treatment plan and why are doctors still hesitant to advocate for it?

C.J. Carter, Kentucky State Director of Minorities for Medical Marijuana, shares the details about his lifelong relationship with cannabis, how it helps his epilepsy, being a cannabis advocate in the Bluegrass state, and his work around cannabis education and legalization.

Stanley Atkins II turned his personal journey of seeking medical cannabis into advocacy and passion for helping others in his home state and beyond.