The mission of Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is to ensure safe and legal access to cannabis (marijuana) for therapeutic use and research.
ASA was founded in 2002, by medical cannabis patient Steph Sherer, as a vehicle for patients to advocate for the acceptance of cannabis as medicine. 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 promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research. ASA works to overcome political, social and legal barriers by creating policies that improve access to medical cannabis for patients and researchers through legislation, education, litigation, research, grassroots empowerment, advocacy and services for patients, governments, medical professionals, and medical cannabis providers.
Ensuring safe and legal access to cannabis means:
- International, federal and state laws and regulations recognized cannabis as a legal medicine.
- Medical professionals recommend medical cannabis options as a frontline treatment option or an adjunct therapy.
- Patients and their caregivers have the information they need to make educated choices about medical cannabis therapies.
- Patients and medical professionals can incorporate a diverse group of products and delivery methods to create required personalized treatment regimen.
- Patients can trust labels on products and that medicines are free of pesticides and contaminants.
- Medical cannabis treatments are covered by insurance.