ASA Activist Newsletter
In the November Issue:
- Possible Cause of Vaping Illness Identified by CDC
- Check the Patient’s Travel Guide before Holiday Travel
- ASA Announces New Unity Scholarships
- ASA Announces New Unity Scholarships
- ASA and PFC Educational Events Include New Trainings
- ASA Launches New Patient Research Partnership
- Activist Profile: Eryck Stamper, Baltimore, Maryland
- Action Alert: Find a Sponsor
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Possible Cause of Vaping Illness Identified by CDC
U.S. health officials have named a probable culprit in the
vaping-related lung injuries that have affected more than 2,000 people
and resulted in at least 39 deaths. The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Friday,
November 8, that researchers found Vitamin E acetate in the lung
fluids in 29 people spread across 10 states. No other toxins were
detected.
Tests were conducted for plant
oils, petroleum distillates and other potentially hazardous chemicals.
In 23 cases, THC or its metabolites were present, and 16 had nicotine
in their lungs.
Vitamin E acetate has also been identified as an ingredient used to
cut oils in some THC vape cartridges produced in the underground
market. While vitamin E acetate, an oil made from the vitamin, is
considered safe to consume in food products, it is not considered safe
to inhale.
The CDC researchers called vitamin E acetate a “strong culprit” but
acknowledged “it is possible that more than one compound or ingredient
could be a cause of lung injury, and evidence is not yet sufficient to
rule out contribution of other toxicants.”
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that 70% of the
nearly 600 vaping products linked to the disease that they have tested
contained THC. On October 1, Americans for Safe Access issued patient-focused
recommendations on cannabis vaping products, noting that vitamin E
acetate is implicated as a potential cause of illness and injury, but
it has not been present in all samples, and an independent study of
underground vape cartridges found other hazardous chemicals, too. The
analysis of 10 types of underground market cannabis vape
cartridges—performed by CannaSafe, a PFC-certified lab in
California—found all contained myclobutanil, a pesticide that becomes
poisonous hydrogen cyanide when heated. Heavy metals have also been
identified in some cartridge designs.
Federal and state health officials are telling cannabis processors
to not add vitamin E acetate to vaping products. The CDC and ASA both
recommend ceasing use of cannabis-containing cartridges, particularly
those obtained from the illicit market, until there is clarity as to
what is causing these illnesses and deaths.
ASA recommends using only cannabis products that have undergone
testing at an independent, third-party laboratory that has verified
composition and potency and screened for adulterants, contaminants,
heavy metals, residual solvents, chemical residues, and other health
concerns, such as mold and bacteria.
“While we are relieved that the CDC is making progress in
determining the cause of the vaping-related lung injuries, our main
concern is ensuring patients still have access to safe medicine
without interruption,” said Americans for Safe Access Interim Director
Debbie Churgai. “This issue highlights the need for continued
research, education, and regulations that promote patient and consumer
safety so that we can safeguard against other harmful toxins.”
More Information:
CDC
vaping information
ASA
patient-focused recommendations
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Check the Patient’s Travel Guide before Holiday Travel
Thanksgiving is a peak travel time in
the U.S., with millions of Americans visiting loved ones. Patients
traveling out of state may not know if their medicine will be
available in the states they visit. ASA’s Medical
Cannabis Patient’s Guide for U.S. Travel helps patients understand
laws in states and territories in which they may be eligible to obtain
cannabis legally. It also includes information on patient rights, tips
for travel, storing cannabis, and using a retail dispensary.
The laws and regulations reported in this guide were last updated
on September 1, 2019. Laws and regulations change constantly, so
patients should review current information on medical cannabis laws
and regulations in the jurisdiction(s) they will be visiting before
traveling across state lines. Before traveling, it is important for
patients to review the most up-to-date information for the
jurisdiction(s) they will be visiting, as laws and regulations are
subject to change.
ASA’s Medical
Cannabis Patient’s Guide for U.S. Travel is a free online resource
that can be shared with anyone who might find it helpful while
traveling.
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ASA Announces New Unity Scholarships
Americans for Safe Access announce last month two new sponsorship
initiatives to help support ASA’s annual unity conference, to be held
March 25-28 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. The new
initiatives offer opportunities to sponsor a scholarship to help a
medical cannabis patient attend the conference, as well as the chance
for committed individuals to support the educational work of the
conference.
History shows that cannabis policy moves forward when medical
cannabis patients have a voice in the conversation about policies that
affect their lives. That’s why each year ASA’s scholarship program
brings patients from all over the country to Washington, D.C. to learn
more about the issues affecting patients and lobby their
representatives on Capitol Hill.
Unfortunately, many patients with a lot to contribute to the
national dialogue cannot afford the trip to Capitol Hill. This year,
ASA has created a Sponsor a Patient program. With
a one-time donation of $1500, an individual or organization can
guarantee a patient (of your choosing or one picked at random)
receives a scholarship to the conference.
The donors name or organizational name will be listed on our
conference website as well as a special thank you in the conference
program.
The second initiative is for individual supporters, who can donate
in any amount to support the conference. All donors
have the option of receiving a special thank you in the conference
program book.
ASA’s annual National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference brings
patients, caregivers, scientists, researchers, advocates, and
representatives from the cannabis industry to Washington, D.C. to hear
the latest updates on medical cannabis and meet with members of
Congress and their staff to urge them to legalize medical cannabis at
the federal level.
For more information on the conference, visit www.ASAUnity.org.
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ASA and PFC Educational Events Include New Trainings
Staff from Americans for Safe Access and
ASA’s Patient Focused Certification (PFC) program presented
information and trainings last month, with more in November and
December.
MJBizCon is hosting an event with ASA in Las Vegas on December 10,
2019 from noon to 4:30 p.m. during their Association's Day. ASA
will be holding an educational event for MJBiz conference
attendees, titled “Ensuring Product Safety, Compliance and
Social Responsibility in the Cannabis Industry.” This
event will be free and open to all MJBiz registrants (space
permitting). RSVP now to secure your spot for the day's programming
and receive a discount code for $100 off MJBizCon
registration.
Some of the speakers include: Chris Day, VP of External Relations
at Marijuana Business Daily and Anne Holland Ventures Inc.; Nic
Easley, CEO of 3C Consulting, LLC (Comprehensive Cannabis Consulting)
and Multiverse Capital CEO/Managing Director; Antonio Frazier,
VP of Operations, CannaSafe Lab; and Steph Sherer, Founder and
President of the International Cannabis and Cannabinoids Institute
(ICCI) and Founder and President of Americans for Safe Access.
Email [email protected] for
more information and opportunities for sponsorship and
speaking.
On November 8, ASA Interim Director
Debbie Churgai joined PFC Director Heather Despres and ASA board
member Don Duncan for a one-day PFC training event in at the
Eaze facility in Venice, California. The training was also broadcast
online as a live webinar. The training included the newly updated Core
Cannabis Training classes (Cannabinoids as Medicine, Business
Operations, and Understanding Cannabis Law), and regulatory
information on California state compliance standards.
Students attending the training day received an access code so that
they may use the PFC online training portal to take course exams and
get training certificates as well as take the National Cannabis
Standards Training course (cultivation, manufacturing, distribution,
or laboratory operations) of their choice online.
On November 13, PFC Director Heather Despres Spoke at the two-day
Canna-Pharma
Conference in San Diego. Despres’ talk “Importance of regulatory
compliance in a changing regulatory environment,” covered best
practices for managing the rapid evolution of standards in the
cannabis industry. Also speaking at the Canna-Pharma conference was
Ethan Russo, MD, Director of Research and Development at the
International Cannabis and Cannabinoids Institute (ICCI), who will be
the keynote speaker for ASA’s Unity 2020 conference.
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ASA Launches New Patient Research Partnership
ASA has launched a new medical cannabis patient research program in
partnership with Aurelius Data. The survey-based research will help
not only improve knowledge of the therapeutic use of cannabis and the
experiences of patients and caregivers, but will also serve to
enlighten lawmakers to help change cannabis policy.
Participants’ survey information will be anonymous and will only be
shared for the purpose of helping to collect data that can prove
helpful for medical cannabis research. No one’s name will be used in
association with any data collected. All survey data will be stored
securely and confidentially in compliance with HIPAA privacy
guidelines.
“We hope to prove the need, and the real potential of cannabis for
reducing harm, providing lasting symptom relief, and changing the
course of disease. Your answers are the first important step in this
process,” said Julie Armstrong, CEO of Aurelius Data. “We know that
healthcare providers generally believe that medical cannabis is a
legitimate medical therapy. Data about how medical cannabis improves
patient quality of life is desperately needed, as this information can
impact clinical decision-making.”
To participate in the anonymous medical cannabis patient research
survey, go to https://research.aureliusdata.com/asanews.
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Activist Profile: Eryck Stamper, Baltimore, Maryland
Eryck Stamper had no question about
his career path. Military service is the family business. His parents,
uncles, grandfather and great grandfather had served in the armed
forces. When he committed at age 18 to join the U.S. Navy, he did a
shot with his recruiter and his mother at the bar where she worked. By
the end of a distinguished 23-year career in the Navy, including
multiple naval deployments in support of Desert Shield/Enduring
Freedom, Somalia, and multiple relief efforts, he was coming to grips
with having become “a hardcore alcoholic.”
He quit drinking the summer of 2013 and switched to cannabis as
soon as he retired that October. Cannabis helped him not just stay
away from alcohol but also eliminate all but one of the 8 medications
he had been prescribed to cope with the various physical and
psychological injuries of his service.
When he enlisted straight out of high school in 1990, Eryck started
at the bottom as an E-1 Seaman Recruit, swabbing decks and standing
shipboard underway watches. Over his 23 years of service, he came to
embody what the Navy calls “deck-plate leadership”—working your way up
but never forgetting where you came from. As he rose to the rank of
E-8 Senior Chief Petty Officer with a Top-Secret/Sensitive Compartment
Information security clearance, managing radio and cryptographic
communications, what he learned about leadership and personnel
management solidified his path.
Eryck jokes that those who served say “Navy” stands for “Never
Again Volunteer Yourself,” but his military training and his
experience with the healing potential of cannabis combined to lead him
to an advocacy role for cannabis and veterans. His advocacy started
with employment in a Maryland dispensary, where the owner, whose
father was a veteran, asked Eryck what they could do to help others
who had served. After thinking long and hard, Eryck proposed a
discount for veterans of 22%, a number that reflects the average
number of veterans who commit suicide in the U.S. each day due to
PTSD. It was a 30-second decision.
After implementing that discount where he worked, Eryck turned to
other businesses and organizations, advocating for not just veterans
but their families and first responders. Those efforts became Veterans
Initiative 22, which has in less than two years convinced 50+
organizations to offer the 22% savings and hire veterans and retired
first-responders. They also persuaded five medical cannabis doctors to
offer recommendations for a $22 fee.
“For years after I left the Navy, I was embarrassed to ask for my
veteran’s discount,” Eryck says. “Now, it’s second nature.”
The difference is he’s not just asking for himself now. Finding the
confidence to advocate for veterans and cannabis took a little time,
but Eryck has always had the acceptance of his family and the support
of his mother and grandmother, who was proud to see him in uniform and
now is proud of his work for others.
“I learned about advocacy from Americans for Safe Access and
Maryland NORML,” Eryck says. “Now I’ve got my sights set on veterans,
family and first responders—the tax advantages of hiring them, the
training and discipline they can bring to any organization.”
He’s also been advocating for medical cannabis and alternative
holistic health approaches with the Veterans Administration (VA), the
Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.
“We’ve got the support of the VFW and the Legion, and we’re working
with the VA on suicide prevention and a CBD suppository for prostate
health and endometriosis,” Eryck says. “But we’re still dealing with a
blue line on base, forcing family members to go off base for medical
cannabis.”
Eryck has just graduated from organic farm school from Therapeutic
Alternatives of Maryland (TALMAR) under a Veterans Administration
vocation and rehabilitation program and is focused on developing the
Maryland Hemp Exchange.
“Right now, 65 farmers have been approved to grow hemp through the
Maryland Department of Agriculture, and Maryland has just about 1,440
acres under cultivation,” Eryck says. “Hemp can create jobs, so our
goal is to create an industrial hemp program in Maryland."
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Action Alert: Find a Sponsor
With adult-use legalization being considered and the presidential
election in full swing, we need to make sure that patients have a seat
at the table for forthcoming changes to cannabis policy. This means we
need to bring as many patients as possible to the 2020 Unity
conference and lobby day next year.
By helping to find a sponsor for Unity, who can provide a one-time
donation of $1,500 (or more), you can guarantee a scholarship to our
2020 National Medical Cannabis Unity conference. Any
person or organization that donates can either choose to designate a
scholarship to a specific recipient or contribute to our fund to award
our most deserving applicants. To guarantee a scholarship spot, and a
chance to change the minds of lawmakers in your state, find a donor
today who will sponsor you! All donors will have the option of
receiving a special thank you in the conference program book or can
remain anonymous.
For more information visit, www.asaunity.org/send_a_patient_to_unity.
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