Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1466168
25 patient focus cannapatientcare.com march/april 2022 | cannabis patient care While she is now a legal patient in the state of Rhode Is- land, her biggest struggle to this day is that although she cannot take other medications, she is also not legally allowed to take cannabis in a hospital or across state lines. "We need national access to medical cannabis," said Lenox Smith. "You shouldn't be denied relief just because you live in the wrong state or because the government still has it listed as Schedule I." "Cannabis gave me some dignity back," said Lenox Smith, who is now 72. "It activated my life again… I was able to do things and smile again. People see the smile and assume I'm okay. I'm not, but cannabis helps me to be able to be positive." About the Author DEBBIE CHURGAI is the Executive Director of Americans for Safe Access (ASA), a medical cannabis patient advocacy non-profit whose mission is to ensure safe and legal access to cannabis (marijuana) for therapeutic use and research. Debbie oversees all organizational and program operations in regards to education, training, policy, research, product safety and business compliance. Current projects include na- tional campaigns such as ASA's End Pain, Not Lives campaign and No Patient Left Behind campaign and programs such as ASA's Patient Focused Certification (PFC) program and the Cannabis Care Certification (CCC) program. She serves as a writer and final editor on ASA publications including the State of the States Report, the Patients Guide to CBD, and the Medical Cannabis Access for Pain Treatment report. About the Interviewee ELLEN is a proud member of Americans for Safe Access, a Rhode Island ambassador for the US Pain Foundation as both a board member and co-director for Cannabis Advocacy, was on the board of the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition (RIPAC) as secre- tary before it closed down, appointed by the governor to both the ATEL Program, (Adaptive Telephone Equipment Loan Program) and the Compassion Center Oversight Committee, helps run the RI EDS Support group finding speakers to educate and empower others, is a former staff writer for Pain News Network and was a staff writer for both National Pain Report and 1000 WATTS Magazine until the shut down for good during the pandemic. She speaks and presents webinars about Cannabis, Ehlers-Danlos advantages of service dogs, and living with chronic pain. A proud mother of four adult children, three grandsons, and two granddaughters, Ellen is also an organic gardener, and prior to her disability was a master swimmer and high school swim coach. Ellen Lenox Smith enjoying some outdoor time. Ellen Lenox Smith and her husband at home.