NEWS BRIEFING:  May 17, 2024

Press Contact: [email protected]

Justice Puts Cannabis Spotlight Back on the Plant and Patients:

Join Cannabis Regulatory Experts Today for Briefing on Justice’s Rescheduling Proposal

Washington, DC – On Thursday, May 16th, 2024, President Biden publicly praised the move to reclassify cannabis to Schedule III. The Department of Justice (DOJ) quickly followed with a press release announcing their proposed rule to the Federal Register, titled,“Proposed Rule Seeks to Move Marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, Emphasizing its Currently Accepted Medical Use in Treatment in the United States.” <[link removed]>

The DOJ's 92-page rationale is now available for review <[link removed]>. Once posted, it will open a 60-day public comment period.

“It is hearting to see the Department of Justice bringing the conversation about cannabis scheduling back to the medical use of cannabis and patients” said Steph Sherer, Founder and President of Americans for Safe Access (ASA). “Rescheduling is a game changer for patients & advocates working to close the gap between politics & medicine. While Schedule III does not close the book on safe access for patients, it closes the  decades long chapter for advocates on proving“ if cannabis has medical value” and opens the final chapter on “how can patients safely access cannabis.”

Americans for Safe Access is advocating for comprehensive federal legislation that would create a new schedule for cannabis (Schedule VI)  and an oversight agency in Health and Human Services (HHS). The group has been working on changing the classification of cannabis for over 22 years including filing a rescheduling petition with a coalition of patients in 2003, suing the DEA to move a rescheduling petition to a decision (ASA vs DEA), participating in successful efforts to reschedule cannabis at the United Nations, and more recently advising the FDA in the current rescheduling effort.  

The DOJ’s announcement coincides with Congress's efforts to modify the 2018 Hemp Authorization Act as they work on the Farm Bill reauthorization. This act created an unregulated market of cannabinoid products, sparking conflicts between state regulators and producers, taking a battle over public health concerns to federal courts.

The proposed rule change is not black and white and the upcoming road ahead to a final ruling promises twist and turns. While patients have not been the focus of much of the news coverage on the rescheduling  process, they are at the center of the journey to this groundbreaking end to 50+ years of prohibition of cannabis.

Join cannabis regulatory experts for a briefing on the DOJ’s rescheduling documents. Discover which cannabinoids will be rescheduled, the potential impact on the Farm Bill, next steps, hurdles, and how HHS and DOJ are bringing the plant and patients back into the spotlight:

What: Briefing  on Rescheduling with Cannabis Regulatory Experts:  Pamela Epstein, Principal, Hedgeislation & Steph Sherer, Founder Americans for Safe Access

When: May 17th 2024 1 pm EST

Where: Zoom (see details below)

With over 150,000 active supporters in all 50 states, ASA is the largest national member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists, and concerned citizens working to overcome political, social, and legal barriers to improve access to medical cannabis for patients and researchers.

Steph Sherer is founder and President of Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and an international leader and expert on medical cannabis patient advocacy. Her direct experience with the medical benefits of cannabis and her political organizing background led Steph to form ASA in 2002 with the purpose of building a strong grassroots movement to protect patients and their rights. As a powerful advocate, a skilled spokesperson, and an energetic initiator of campaigns. Alongside the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), has created the first cannabis  product safety standards in the areas of distribution, cultivation, analytics, and manufacturing, packaging, and labeling.

Pamela N. Epstein, Esq., LLM is an accomplished legal professional with a wealth of experience. Pamela currently holds the esteemed position of Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer at Terpene Belt, Inc. In this pivotal role, she spearheads a dynamic team responsible for a diverse range of functions including legal oversight, domestic and international governmental affairs, compliance, licensing, corporate stewardship, and corporate governance. Her unwavering dedication is focused on driving solutions that align with the company's strategic priorities while safeguarding Terpene Belt, its customers, and the broader cannabis and hemp.

Pamela served two terms as the President of the Board of Directors for the California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA), the state's largest cannabis trade association, where she was a driving force in shaping the industry's future. Pamela also actively leds the charge on establishing standards for Determining Intoxication of Cannabinoids within ASTM's D37 Committee for Cannabis and Hemp. She also serves on the Food Drug Law Institute (“FDLI”) Cannabinoid Committee.

Additional Resources: 

ASA’s Model Federal Legislation <[link removed]>

Background on Scheduling Effort <[link removed]>

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
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