The next time you come through the PCC take notice of the large glass jar we have in front of the check-in desk. It’s not a jar for tips, but instead allows you to make a donation to one of the most important medical cannabis advocates we have today- The Americans For Safe Access. We have gained a lot of ground in the past ten years, but none of the protections we have as cannabis patients came about by themselves. The ASA is one of our greatest weapons in the fight for medical cannabis rights. They argue for our rights in the courts, help patients to gain legal access to medicine in places not tolerant to cannabis, and organize protests whenever necessary. Not only that, but they got their start right here in the Berkeley/Oakland area.

2001 Everything Is Still New…and although the city of Berkeley was open to hearing proposals about dispensaries within the city, they were not always quick to make decisions or declare anything official. The major dispensaries in Berkeley at the time, BerkeleyPCC being one of them, knew it was better not to be divided. They needed to band together in a united front in order to present the best arguments for making Berkeley a safe place for patients to get help. So the predecessor of ASA, the Berkeley Patients Alliance, was formed.

The dispensaries in Berkeley quickly became models for how dispensaries should be established and operated. In 2002 Steph Sherer, current director of ASA, took things to another level. She transformed the Berkeley Alliance into what it is today, Americans For Safe Access, a national organization that fights for the right of patients everywhere to have safe access to medicine.

Things Don’t Always Get Easier. We have become very comfortable and used to having access to cannabis here, yet the DEA continues to raid dispensaries and prosecute medical cannabis providers throughout the nation, including California. When these injustices occur, ASA is first to respond to raids or help fight legal battles on behalf of patients. If the government were allowed to go completely unchecked, dispensaries could be systematically crushed but thanks to the efforts of the ASA, when a dispensary is illegally raided, leaving patients without provisions, we see it on every local news station. The general public can see the faces of the victims and realize the only laws being broken are the ones that protect the rights of sick people.

California still has its battles to fight, but it is no longer the front line in the conflict over patients’ rights. Along with other noble organizations fighting for the cause, the ASA has helped hundreds of thousands of patients across the country step out into the light and demand access to safe and effective medicine. They have helped direct the focus of the many cannabis supporters so that politicians and policy makers recognize the supreme importance of patients’ legal rights. With their direction, medical marijuana patients are a nationwide force to be reckoned with, one that lawmakers cannot ignore.

The ASA has been fighting for over five years to get the Federal Government to reclassify cannabis from its status as a dangerous drug with no medical value. Their diligence has forced a decision that was not acceptable, however the stalling of the government may have been a blessing in disguise. Lots of research has been done in the last five years. Now the ASA can appeal the decision with a wealth of new and persuasive scientific evidence supporting marijuana’s beneficial uses.

The ASA is also currently rallying support for 3 major federal bills being presented that protect patients, dispensaries, and support businesses involved in the medical cannabis industry. Federal drug policy starts in Washington, and the ASA is right there, fighting hard alongside some well known congressman to get the laws changed. The Obama administration recently retreated from its previous support of medical cannabis and has issued troubling statements about how the Feds intend to proceed. The ASA needs you to help respond strongly to Obama and his policy advisers.

ASA has also expanded their Raid Response Campaign into states outside California. When the government makes a decision to raid a dispensary, the ASA has developed an immediate protocol that includes notifying the press to bring public attention, helping those facing prosecution get legal assistance, and immediately organizing protests on a local level so the injustice does not go unanswered. One of the most important things for us to remember is that any dispensary can be raided, anytime, anywhere. The ASA is there to help immediately, but all providers and patients need to be prepared
beforehand so that the response can be strong and positive. Review preparedness tips here.

Possibly one of the coolest things ASA has created is the “Medical Cannabis Think Tank and Policy Shop”. One problem with the rapid expansion of the medical marijuana culture is that local lawmakers don’t know how to handle dispensaries in their community. Sometimes cannabis providers don’t appreciate the need to follow official channels and promote medical cannabis in a positive way. The ASA has taken the role of helping lawmakers gain accurate information about the impact dispensaries have on communities. They also aid in setting standards for dispensaries to operate under so that medical cannabis is always viewed by communities as a positive thing.

Imagine you wanted to start a new collective in a town with no other dispensaries. Would you know the best process and procedure for setting up a dispensary? Would you be able to present enough of a legal case so that city officials take you seriously? The ASA has been through all of it before, and the Think Tank is a way that they can share valuable legal knowledge and experience with those who are fighting for medical cannabis advocacy. A wealth of information and ideas is available to anyone who needs help.

So help out if you can. You can drop a dollar in the jar, or go online and buy some cool gear that will help the cause and let people know where you stand. Go to their website and sign a petition, or see when local chapters are meeting near your area. The next time you are enjoying safe access to high quality medicine, remember the folks who helped make it happen for us and continue to make it happen for others like us.

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