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advocate focus
cannapatientcare.com november/december 2022
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cannabis patient care
Unity Conference
This year's Unity Conference theme is "Yesterday, Today, and
Tomorrow," which will highlight and give attendees a chance
to see how far we have come in cannabis advocacy with ASA.
"We're going to be talking to folks that were some of ASA's
early staffers, alumni, and people that were par t of some
of the lawsuits that we carried out in the early days," said
Sherer. "Then we're going to be looking at some of the things
that are working today for patients, and unfor tunately, a
larger look at some of the challenges that patients are fac-
ing. Finally, we're going to end with talking to some doctors
and researchers in other countries that really helped us look
towards the future and figure out what we can expect and
what we can ask for."
The conference will also be taking a deep dive into the
model of federal legislation and try to engage people in the
campaign ASA will be rolling out to get legislation passed in
the next session. Sherer hopes that attendees will appreciate
how far we have come in cannabis advocacy, being comfort-
able in articulating that we haven't won the war yet, and to
be empathetic towards people who are still struggling in our
current medical cannabis system. The conference will end on
building hope and enthusiasm for fighting for the future we all
want and need.
Celebrating 20 Years: What Is the Next Step?
An important takeaway from ASA's historical 20 years as an or-
ganization is to remember that the advocacy work for cannabis
isn't done. Over the last few years Sherer has been listening
to medical cannabis patients and advocates. These patients
are disheartened because they have worked so hard to create
medical cannabis access programs in their state only to see
adult-use strip away some of the rights they had won. This can
feel really defeating. One of ASA's hopes for the future is to
re-engage those patients while also trying to reach the people
who look at the current medical cannabis programs and think
that's what the organization is fighting for and that they don't
see themselves in the program. "Fast forward 20 years later,
we're dealing with sort of a new challenge, which is on one
hand, everybody sort of thinks that we've won. A lot of people
ask me what I'm going to do next, and I'm like, 'Well, we're still
fighting this one unless we change the name of our organiza-
tion to Privileged Americans for Safe Access.' We're very far from
winning," Sherer said.
The organization will continue to chip away at legislation
that has been stopping medical cannabis from succeeding
and one day dismantle the stigma preventing cannabis from
Federal legalization.
If you're interested in learning more about ASA or becoming
an advocate, please visit https://www.safeaccessnow.org.
References
(1) https://www.safeaccessnow.org/about_asa
(2) https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/americans-
for-safe-access-20-years-of-hard-won-triumphs
(3) https://www.safeaccessnow.org
ASA members stand in front of the Capitol during ASA's annual
Lobby Day. Photo courtesy of ASA.
Larry Harvey, from the Kettle Falls Five, successful trip to D.C. to
pass the CJS Amendment. Photo courtesy of ASA.
