Dear Friend,



Around this time last year we were immersed in planning for 2020. Well, it turned out planning could never have accounted for what would turn our year upside-down. The Pandemic and accompanying economic recession have required us to reorganize, restrategize and adapt all of our 2020 plans. Despite those challenges, we are so very proud of all we were able to accomplish this year.



Below are a few of my favorite ASA accomplishments from 2020:



- When many businesses were ordered close due to COVID-19, ASA immediately sprung into action <[link removed]> sending a letter to elected officials and state medical cannabis program directors <[link removed]> urging them to take action to protect patient access and the medical cannabis supply chain by classifying cannabis businesses as “essential services.” Other recommendations requested included tax relief for patients and cannabis businesses, guidance for dispensaries on temporary changes such as deliveries and increased purchase limits, and extension of program identification card expiration dates.  This advocacy resulted in medical cannabis being declared “essential” by 28 states with many of ASA’s recommendations adopted, improving the lives of patients sheltering at home.

- We also unveiled a new report on best approaches to resolving the conflict of laws between the federal and state governments regarding medical cannabis. The report, Ending the Federal Conflict: Changing the Paradigm on Medical Cannabis <[link removed]>, calls for either descheduling cannabis or rescheduling it to a new classification that would allow for cannabis to be used as a frontline medication. The report also urges the creation of a new federal agency, the Office of Medical Cannabis Control (OMCC) that would have centralized regulatory authority over medical cannabis research, production, and distribution. This policy goal is a major objective for us in 2021.

- Thanks to the rapid response of ASA’s advocates who sent hundreds of messages to our UN delegation with only a few hours warning, and, of course, our long-standing advocacy efforts at the UN, the UN removed cannabis from Schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act <[link removed]>, in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization. This recognition of cannabis’ medical importance will pave the way for further cannabis research and shift the international conversation about cannabis into a much more medical direction.



I could go on and on about how proud I am of the work of ASA’s staff, members and supporters whose advocacy makes this possible but if you’d like to read a lot more about all we were able to accomplish during a global pandemic, please take a look at our complete list of 2020 accomplishments <[link removed]>.



We wouldn’t be able to accomplish any of this without the donations and membership dues of supporters and advocates who support our work. We so appreciate the businesses that sponsor our work, however, the majority of our donations come from people like you who truly appreciate our work and give what they can.



Can you support our work with a donation? <[link removed]>



Thank you for all you do!



Debbie Churgai, Executive Director



Americans for Safe Access

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