My journey with cannabis medicines inspired the founding of Americans for Safe Access (ASA) in 2002, driven by a personal mission and a collective vision to improve lives through medical cannabis. Since then, I’ve witnessed firsthand how patient advocacy can profoundly change healthcare and people’s lives. Today, I’m honored to lead ASA once again, as we intensify efforts to ensure medical cannabis reaches all patients who need it, fully integrated into our nation’s healthcare system.
Early Advocacy (2002–2004): Defending Patients, Building Hope
ASA launched with a Raid Response Campaign to protect vulnerable patients and caregivers from intense federal opposition to medical cannabis programs. During approximately 500 DEA raids, our teams led protests alongside patients, providing guidance and comfort through visible support and resistance, the campaign kept the spotlight on this unpopular federal activity. We trained thousands in “raid preparedness,” transforming fear into empowerment. In these early years, every rally and legal challenge wasn’t just political—it was personal, driven by those whose daily lives depended on medical cannabis access.
Legal Milestones and Patient Victories (2005–2009): Securing Fundamental Rights
Our strategic legal actions between 2005 and 2009, such as the landmark ASA v. CHP, DMV, the city of Garden Grove, and the county of San Diego cases, each victory weren’t merely a courtroom wins—they protected real families and set the course for states across the country to implement medical cannabis laws. Patients could finally reclaim their dignity and medicine from unjust seizures, and cities and states could no longer hide behind federal laws to undermine patient protections. These victories underscored that medical cannabis wasn’t simply a legal argument—it was about compassionate care, dignity, and patient rights.
Federal Breakthroughs and Quality Assurance (2010–2014): Ensuring Safe Access
In 2010, ASA’s groundbreaking legal standing to challenge federal cannabis scheduling symbolized patient voices finally penetrating the highest levels of policy debate. Our collaborative work creating the first international cannabis product safety standards transformed how cannabis medicines were produced and regulated, ensuring patients received safe, reliable treatments. Perhaps most significantly, the 2014 passage of the CJS Appropriations Amendment offered vital federal protection, safeguarding state medical programs from federal interference and securing peace of mind for thousands of patients nationwide.
Breaking Barriers Globally and Locally (2015–2020): Making Medical Cannabis Essential
By removing research barriers in 2015, ASA opened new doors to scientific discovery, directly improving patient care. Globally, our advocacy led to the World Health Organization acknowledging cannabis’s therapeutic value, shifting international perceptions. The COVID-19 pandemic tested our resolve; by ensuring cannabis businesses were deemed essential, we protected uninterrupted patient access. These milestones reminded us that medical cannabis is not optional—it’s essential healthcare.
Recognition and Progress (2021–2024): A New Era Begins
The historic UN reclassification of cannabis in 2021 and the federal acknowledgment in 2024 of cannabis’s medical use marked milestones built on decades of relentless advocacy. These achievements were the culmination of patient-led activism, shifting policies from skepticism to acceptance. Yet, our work is far from done. The challenges ahead—establishing a federal medical cannabis program, ensuring insurance coverage, and eliminating discrimination—are immense and urgent.
Challenges Ahead: A Call to Action
As I return to ASA’s helm after years of advancing medical cannabis internationally, I’m deeply aware of the battles still ahead. The recent federal recognition of cannabis’s medical value is only a first step. We must now create pathways for integrating complex botanical medicines into mainstream healthcare, protecting patient rights, and dismantling longstanding stigmas. Our campaigns—Safe Access for All, the Cannabis and Cannabinoid Medicine Initiative (CCMI), and the What’s in Your Cannabis? project—need widespread public engagement. The stakes are personal: improved quality of life, dignity, and health for millions.
Empowerment Through Education
ASA continues to empower patients, healthcare providers, and policymakers through comprehensive education and advocacy training. Our accredited programs bridge knowledge gaps, ensuring informed, compassionate cannabis care nationwide. By educating stakeholders, we strengthen patient voices and influence crucial policy changes at all government levels.
Towards Full Healthcare Integration
Our ultimate goal remains the full integration of cannabis into the U.S. healthcare system—accessible, affordable, and insured. The path forward requires collective advocacy, community engagement, and persistent legislative efforts. By expanding protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act and fighting discrimination, we affirm that medical cannabis patients deserve equal rights and opportunities.
Join Our Movement
I’m profoundly grateful for the community of dedicated advocates, healthcare experts, and patients who’ve journeyed with us for 23 transformative years. Your support fuels this movement and defines our future.
Together, let’s continue advocating fiercely, educating widely, and fighting tirelessly until medical cannabis is recognized fully as a legitimate medicine.
Join us—your voice matters, your action makes a difference, and your involvement will change lives. ASA is offering a $23 membership through September to celebrate our anniversary: www.safeaccessnow.org/23_years
Learn more about Steph Sherer and her work through our featured piece on her in our Women in Cannabis section.
