Medical Marijuana

Los Angeles Medical Marijuana Rules Might Be Amended

The Los Angeles City Council will consider amending its medical marijuana ordinance because one of its provisions unexpectedly disqualified dozens of dispensaries from continuing operations.

N.J. Legislators Back Resolution to Ease Medical Marijuana Rules

Committees in the Senate and the Assembly have passed resolutions giving Governor Christie's administration 30 days to rewrite the law. Should Mr. Christie continue to refuse, the state Assembly could simply remove the proposed restriction all together. In January, New Jersey became the 14th state to legalize medical marijuana for patients suffering from a list of mostly chronic illnesses, but sponsors say the administration's plan to implement the program is more restrictive than called for in the law, which already was considered the most conservative in the country.

Medical Marijuana: Possible Lawsuit Against CO Health Department Over License Ap Rejections

The rejection of nearly 2,000 medical marijuana applications due to a new health department policy has generated anger among patients and doctors no longer allowed to write recommendations. A representative of the advocacy group Sensible Colorado, which took part in a successful court challenge against the department last year, confirms that the organization is considering similar action this time around.

A Warning to Patients

N.J. Assembly to Consider Resolution to Force Change of Medical Marijuana Rules

Proponents of a new law giving chronically ill patients access to medical marijuana say New Jersey's rules are too strict to comply with the intent of the law. An Assembly resolution to be considered today would force the Republican administration to rewrite the rules before they take effect in January.

Medical Marijuana: Nearly 2,000 Patient Recommendations Nixed Over Quiet Rule Change

Medical marijuana patients across Colorado have learned that doctor recommendations for the card allowing them to use MMJ have been rejected. Why? A new health department policy that slid into place almost unnoticed -- one that's likely to disenfranchise and anger nearly 2,000 patients, as well as infuriating impacted doctors and clinics.

Lily Rose, cancer survivor and Prop 203 proponent

Arizona Medical Marijuana Vote Too Close to Certify

Two days out, Arizona's medical marijuana vote is still too close to certify.

Arizona Medical Marijuana Initiative Still Has a Chance

Late last night we basically wrote off the Arizona medical marijuana initiative, Proposition 203.

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Hard Day for Medical Marijuana Initiatives

Two statewide medical marijuana initiatives lost on Tuesday. A third is trailing very slightly, but with uncounted mail-in ballots making it still too close to call.

Medical Marijuana: A New National Landscape for Patients

Yesterday was a hard day for medical marijuana advocates across the country. We defeated several local initiatives banning dispensaries in California and Colorado and (fingers crossed) our "NotCooley" campaign provided the narrow margin necessary to ensure victory for California Attorney General-Elect Kamala Harris. But voters rejected statewide medical marijuana initiatives in Arizona, Oregon and South Dakota, while measures to increase taxes on medicine in California won.   And of course, the US House of Representatives is now in the hands of dangerous politicians who do not share our vision of safe access.

We have never had so much to lose and our fight begins today! It is more important than ever that we work together to protect the gains we've made and fight even harder for what we know is possible. Americans for Safe Access (ASA) needs your support now more than ever.

The national landscape for medical marijuana has changed, but our course remains the same. Since 2006, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) has been working full time in Washington, DC to: 1) Put an end to federal interference with state medical marijuana laws, 2) End the ban on clinical research, and 3) Create a plan to guarantee safe access for the entire nation. That work is ongoing and we will not stop until all Americans have safe and legal access.

But we cannot do this alone. This year, I traveled all over the country to meet patients and advocates and I am deeply moved by your commitment to safe access. Unfortunately, I am also shocked by how few of you engage regularly with your federal representatives. If you are not meeting with them, then they are only hearing about medical cannabis from our opposition.

These election results mean we need to fight harder! With your help, ASA can be ready for new challenges and bigger victories. Together we can stand up to our opponents in Congress and prepare for 2012 and beyond.   Can you make a contribution to ASA today, so that we can keep fighting?

We must be our own liberators; no one is going to do our work for us.

Republican Party control of the House of Representatives may make our work more difficult, and that’s why it is more important than ever that ASA bring an educated and empowered constituency with real solutions to the table. We have to show the new Congress that patients’ voices cannot be ignored! That is the only way we will get policymakers to bridge the divide between federal and state laws regarding medical marijuana.

ASA will continue to work on Capitol Hill and with the Administration to improve the federal government's understanding about medical marijuana, as well as both the immediate and long term needs of our members. We may have lost several battles yesterday, but we have not lost the fight by any means. We’ve become used to working hard to defy the odds, but we need your supportright now to keep making a positive difference in the lives of patients.

Join the fight today and help us make that difference!

Steph Sherer
Executive Director

Medical Marijuana

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