Americans for Safe Access

MARCH 23, 2025

With over 20 years of experience, Ive dedicated my career to advancing cannabis policy and patient rights. This annual event is a powerful opportunity for us to meet with state representatives and make our voices heard on the critical issues affecting cannabis patients and the industry.

Advocacy 137

Advocacy Events Patients Policy 137

NORML

AUGUST 13, 2019

Regardless of the policy you’re advocating for (e.g., adult-use, patient access, decriminalization etc.) Marijuana policy should be evidence based. As a member you’ll be the driving force behind meaningful marijuana law reform efforts on the local, state and federal levels. Get your tickets today!

Policy 221

Policy Marijuana Decriminalization Legislation 221

NORML

NOVEMBER 12, 2019

Lehigh Valley NORML, and medical cannabis patients from across Pennsylvania, will hold the second in a series of monthly protests at the Department of Health (PaDOH) headquarters on Forster St. “Patients First: Fixing Medical Marijuana in PA” will commence on Wednesday November 13, 2019 from 08:30 AM-5:00 PM.

Patients 250

Patients Marijuana Programs Events 250

NORML

APRIL 3, 2020

In several jurisdictions, lawmakers have designated these operations to be ‘essential’ to the health and well-being of the patient community. ” Below is a summary of the policies currently in place governing retail cannabis access during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Access 331

Access Retail Patients Policy 331

NORML

MARCH 4, 2019

In the Texas State Capitol Building, dozens of patients joined us to ask their legislators to coauthor legislation that makes the Texas Compassionate Use Program more inclusive and effective. Patients then broke out into groups by district and went to visit their legislative offices. Marijuana policy should be evidence based.

Patients 181

Patients Legislation Conditions Events 181

NORML

SEPTEMBER 5, 2019

District council members have enacted legislation — Act Number A23-0114: The Medical Marijuana Program Patient Employment Protection Temporary Amendment Act — to protect qualified patients from workplace discrimination. ” To date, 15 states provide workplace protections for medical cannabis patients.

Patients 199

Patients Safety Legislation Policy 199

Americans for Safe Access

DECEMBER 20, 2017

However, while its original context, which related to tax policy, may not apply, the words lend themselves to a conversation that lawmakers should be having. How should our country address liberty, but also safety, when it comes to firearms and cannabis?

Patients 203

Patients Safety Policy Cannabis 203

NORML

JULY 15, 2020

The post Survey: Majority of Health Care Professionals Endorse Cannabis Use Instead of Opioids in Chronic Pain Patients appeared first on NORML. Sixty-three percent of respondents also agreed, “The DEA should reclassify marijuana so that it is no longer a schedule I drug.".

Chronic Pain 246

Chronic Pain Patients DEA Marijuana 246

NORML

MAY 24, 2023

The post State Policy Weekly Update 5/24/2023 appeared first on NORML. Highlights include LA, ME, MD, MN, MT, NV, NH, NY, OH, PA, and RI.

Policy 161

Policy Cultivation Consumption Patients 161

NORML

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

On Wednesday, September 25th, 2019, NORML testified at the DC Council Committee on Labor and Workforce Development in support of B23-0309 , the “Medical Marijuana Program Patient Employment Protection Amendment Act of 2019”, which seeks to expand workplace protections for medical cannabis patients in the District of Columbia.

Patients 201

Patients Legislation Safety Programs 201

Americans for Safe Access

JANUARY 21, 2025

The first 100 days of the 47th Administration and 119th Congress will set policy priorities that impact millions of patients across America. From the economy to housing and public health, these decisions will shape the direction of medical cannabis policy for years to come.

Patients 130

Patients Policy Cannabis 130

NORML

JULY 22, 2020

Members of the New York state senate approved legislation by a 58 to 2 vote… The post New York: Senate Lawmakers Approve Legislation Protecting Medical Marijuana Patients from Housing Discrimination appeared first on NORML.

Legislation 184

Legislation Patients Marijuana Policy 184

Americans for Safe Access

OCTOBER 11, 2024

Americans for Safe Access (ASA) has been at the forefront of fighting for patients’ rights to access medical cannabis across four presidencies since our founding in 2002. We've crafted briefing materials and “100-day campaigns” for three incoming administrations on medical cannabis policy.

Patients 130

Patients Law Policy Access 130

NORML

NOVEMBER 1, 2019

Those suffering from chronic pain report significant improvements in health following the passage of medical cannabis access laws, according to data published in the journal Forum for Health Economics & Policy. Among state-licensed medical cannabis registrants, two out of three report consuming cannabis to mitigate pain conditions.

Access 167

Access Patients Chronic Pain Law 167

Americans for Safe Access

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

The bill represents an ambitious step forward in federal cannabis policy reform, offering the most comprehensive approach yet contemplated by federal lawmakers, however misses the mark completely on patient needs. Not surprisingly, our comments were focused on conveying patient priorities , specifically:

Patients 278

Patients Policy Legislation Cannabis 278

Americans for Safe Access

OCTOBER 21, 2020

At ASA, our goal is to ensure that every state has sensible cannabis policies that create safe and legal access for all patients. This means we believe that patients who medicate with cannabis should receive treatment equal to that of patients who medicate with any other drug. Many of which have been pediatric patients.

Access 264

Access Patients Programs Treatment 264

NORML

MAY 22, 2020

Kevin Stitt has vetoed legislation, House Bill 3288 , which sough to expand patients’ access to medical cannabis and make other amendments to the state’s marijuana laws. Separate language in the measure amended criminal penalties for persons who possess marijuana (up to 42.45

Access 294

Access Legislation Programs Patients 294

Leafly

JUNE 1, 2020

The policy of 'tethering,' which limited patients to a single dispensary, will end on June 2. The post Montana patients will be free to shop at any dispensary starting Tuesday appeared first on Leafly.

Dispensary 131

Dispensary Patients Policy Marijuana 131

Americans for Safe Access

AUGUST 1, 2023

My educational investment in the industry has offered me, through my focus on regulation and policy, the opportunity to collaborate as an advisor with several advocacy and education intermediary organizations focused on federal policy change for medical cannabis patients and a nascent, struggling industry that is supporting them.

Advocacy 246

Advocacy Education Policy Cannabinoids 246

NORML

FEBRUARY 2, 2022

“Marijuana access is long overdue for Mississippi’s patients,” NORML’s State Policies Manager Jax James said. The overwhelming majority of voters decided in favor of this policy change over a year ago, and for the past 14 months the will of the people has been denied.”.

Access 236

Access Policy Patients Cannabis 236

Americans for Safe Access

JANUARY 27, 2023

Advocates are discouraged, businesses are frustrated, patients are disheartened, and frankly I am getting a little tired of it! Policies, like patients, get infected if they stay in triage for too long.

Patients 246

Patients Policy Business Cannabis 246

Project CBD

SEPTEMBER 25, 2018

Project CBD , a California-based educational non-profit, has published an in-depth primer on Cannabinoid-Drug Interactions for health professionals, patients, and public policy-makers. See bottom of this article for downloads. The 33-page report, summarized below, is available for free download at the bottom of the page.

Education 258

Education Cannabinoids CBD Policy 258

NORML

APRIL 22, 2020

In the majority of jurisdictions that regulate cannabis marketplaces, lawmakers in recent weeks have designated these operations to be ‘essential’ to the health and well-being of the patient community. ” You can find the full Senate letter here.

Access 335

Access Business Marijuana Patients 335

The NM Political Report | Medical Cannabis Program

AUGUST 23, 2021

A state district judge last week ordered RLD, the New Mexico Department of Health and the governor’s office to either change their policy for medical cannabis patient purchase amounts or present a compelling argument for not doing so.

Patients 131

Patients Programs Policy Conditions 131

NORML

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said: “For millions of patients, cannabis is a legitimate therapeutic option. More and more, our laws and regulations are recognizing this fact and evolving their policies accordingly.".

Policy 246

Policy Patients Cannabis Law 246

NORML

JUNE 25, 2019

“Today, Illinois residents and political leaders demonstrated the power of democracy in action, using the political process to achieve sensible policies that protect individual freedoms and that ensure community safety,” said NORML Political Director Justin Strekal.

Legalization 279

Legalization Marijuana Legislation Cultivation 279

NORML

JUNE 18, 2020

Justices for the Supreme Court of the state of Pennsylvania have struck down a countywide policy that barred those on probation from accessing medical cannabis. Saylor opined: “The MMA (Medical Marijuana Act] contains an immunity provision protecting patients from government sanctions.

Access 322

Access Patients Marijuana Policy 322

Americans for Safe Access

FEBRUARY 8, 2023

After 25 years of the state cannabis policy experiments, there is no denying that the national acceptance of cannabis has changed. In a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers found that one in three Americans are utilizing medical cannabis to manage chronic pain, all but two U.S.

Chronic Pain 246

Chronic Pain Policy Programs Access 246

NORML

MARCH 17, 2023

“For millions of patients, cannabis is a legitimate therapeutic option. More and more, lawmakers, regulators, and the courts are recognizing this fact and evolving their opinions and policies accordingly.”

Policy 236

Policy Patients Cannabis 236

Veriheal

APRIL 11, 2024

million patients in 2022, a sharp increase from the 3.1 While there have been some drops in medical patient registration in states with adult-use (recreational) programs, pandemic-era programs also directly attributed to part of the increase in patient registration.

Patients 111

Patients Chronic Pain Marijuana Conditions 111

Americans for Safe Access

FEBRUARY 22, 2022

Although conditions have improved for patients significantly in the past two decades, our 2021 State of the State report clearly shows that even after 25 years, states are falling short on providing safe, legal, and affordable access to ALL patients. And these only scratches the surface of the problems patients face across the country.

Access 245

Access Patients Retail Policy 245

Americans for Safe Access

AUGUST 20, 2021

While the bill represents an ambitious step forward in federal cannabis policy reform, offering the most comprehensive approach yet contemplated by federal lawmakers with the backing of the highest-ranking elected member of the Senate, we believe there is more work that can be done to protect patients.

Policy 279

Policy Legislation Patients Cannabis 279

NORML

JANUARY 28, 2020

” “This is likely the result of two major policy changes: More than twenty decriminalization or penalty downgrade ordinances passed by city councils across the Commonwealth, and approximately a quarter of a million registered medical marijuana patients,” said Goldstein.

Marijuana 292

Marijuana Data Decriminalization Policy 292

NORML

JULY 1, 2019

Three new laws intended to expand patient access to and the therapeutic value of Virginia’s medical cannabis program take effect July 1, 2019. “These bills help ensure that all patients are able to obtain and use the necessary therapeutic doses of their cannabis medicines regardless of location or physical ability.”

Law 248

Law Patients Access Oil 248

NORML

MAY 19, 2020

Next, the presence of large cash transactions places law enforcement, tax regulators, consumers, and patients at heightened risk of exposure to the virus. Passage of the SAFE Banking Act would represent a significant step forward towards a rational and evidence-based national cannabis policy.”

Banking 363

Banking Marijuana Legislation Safety 363

NORML

NOVEMBER 12, 2021

"While today's news comes as a welcome relief for West Virginians, it is far too little too late for the tens of thousands of patients who have suffered needlessly in the interim as politicians and regulators largely dragged their feet," NORML State Policies Manager Carly Wolf said.

Policy 229

Policy Patients Cannabis Dispensary 229

NORML

JANUARY 24, 2023

“Marijuana access has been long overdue for Mississippi’s patients,” NORML’s State Policies Manager Jax James said. The overwhelming majority of voters decided in favor of this policy change over two years ago, and lawmakers had an obligation to ensure that the process of providing access faced no further undue delays.”

Access 206

Access Policy Patients Cannabis 206