Bay Area Americans for Safe Access

06/02/2026

Medical cannabis patients have waited decades for federal recognition. Now, patients and caregivers need clear tools to understand what has changed, claim their rights, and fight discrimination.

Americans for Safe Access has released a new guide, “Medical Cannabis Patients: Claim Your Federal Protections & Privileges,” to help patients and caregivers understand the new federal cannabis laws, stay prepared, document discrimination, and demand fair treatment in housing, healthcare, employment, disability accommodations, public benefits, federal services, and other areas of daily life.

Laws have changed. Stigma will delay implementation. Rights do not enforce themselves. Read the guide and help end medical cannabis patient discrimination: https://www.safeaccessnow.org/claim_federal_protections

05/22/2026

Check out UNMC/ASA's blog for cannabis businesses and the DEA regs:

What Cannabis Businesses Need to Know About DEA Registration

04/27/2026

Oh right... Patients!

Thanks, Ma*****na Moment, for publishing my Op-ed!
Read the full piece here: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/federal-marijuana-rescheduling-will-end-discrimination-in-housing-healthcare-and-employment-for-medical-cannabis-patients-op-ed/

If you want to know what patients are doing to gear up for Act 2: Join us Wednesday @ 8 pm: www.safeaccessnow.org/the_future_of_medical_cannabis_advocacy

and join us in DC May 13 & 14! https://www.safeaccessnow.org/asa_2026_lobby

04/24/2026

Americans for Safe Access Statement Regarding DEA and Department of Justice’s Actions to Reschedule Cannabis (Ma*****na) for Medical Access

“This is a big day for medical cannabis patients. Our federal government recognizes our medicine as legitimate, which means we are not only entitled to tax-free access but to federal protections. For millions of Americans who rely on medical cannabis, this is more than a policy shift — it is validation. It affirms patients’ lived experience and represents an important step in the right direction.

We are encouraged to see many of the ASA's concerns about Schedule III addressed in the order, as well as the use of language from our model federal legislation. Over the coming weeks and months, we will continue to unpack the implications of today’s announcement, which is sure to face legal, regulatory, and political scrutiny. But today, we are celebrating being closer than ever to a national medical cannabis program and to restoring patient rights. (This is a great gift for ASA's 24th Anniversary of fighting to ensure safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research!)

What happens next matters and will directly affect patient access and the integration of medical cannabis into U.S. healthcare systems. Americans for Safe Access calls on patients, caregivers, health care providers, and advocates to stay engaged and be ready to mobilize. We have to ensure patients’ voices are front and center of every policy discussion moving forward.

We encourage supporters to sign up through the ASA website, become a member, and consider joining us in Washington, D.C., on May 13 and 14 to help educate Congress as federal cannabis policy continues to evolve. www.safeaccessnow.org/asa_2026_lobby

ASA will also host a briefing for medical cannabis stakeholders this evening at 8:00 p.m. ET on Zoom:

https://www.safeaccessnow.org/monthly_unmc_briefing” and will issue a more formal analysis of the new order in the coming days.

A big thank you to ASA members, volunteers, and sponsors who all helped make today possible. “

Steph Sherer, Founder and Executive Director

Please RSVP: Patients: The Missing Link to Federal Cannabis Policy Reform