3rd Annual Medical Cannabis Unity Conference

Americans for Safe Access is the nation's largest organization advocating safe access to medical cannabis. This year their third annual unity conference was held at Loews Madison in Washington DC.

I've been an active member of ASA for 13 years. I've taken action time and time again on behalf of patients in need of medical cannabis. I was a plaintiff in ASA's successful lawsuit against the CHP.

The conference consisted of 3 days of panels, lectures and workshops.

Over 400 advocates from around the country attended, with over 40 states being represented. California had over 100 attendees, making us the largest contingency.

It was filled with such luminaries of the mmj movement, such as keynote speaker Ethan Russo, Medical Director of Phytec, a Biotech firm developing consumer healthcare products targeting endocannabinoid system. A clinical neurologist and ethnobotanist, Dr. Russo previously served for over a decade as Senior Medical Advisor to GW Pharmaceuticals, where he supervised clinical trials of their lead product, Sativex and pediatric anti-seizure medication, Epidiolex.

Sue Sisley, who was honored by Americans for Safe Access as Researcher of the Year.Sisley is the principal investigator for the only FDA-approved randomized controlled trial looking at use of whole-plant marijuana in combat veterans with treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder;

And Alice O'Leary-Randall whose husband Robert was the first federal medical cannabis patient.

The conference also included -

CTI Cannabis Core Training
CME for doctors
Advanced research and scientific information
Timely and relevant panels and workshops – overcoming stigma, cannabis and parenting, local initiatives, citizen lobbying, product safety, making extractions and more
Video appearances from singer and medical cannabis patient Melissa Etheridge, US Senator Mikukski, US Rep. Farr, and US Rep. Rohrabacher

Almost 300 patients and advocates from 41 states visited their representatives in Congress in support of the CARERS Act. ASA also hosted the first ever Senate staff beefing on medical cannabis for a room filled past capacity. Nearly 100 Californians made the long trip to DC.

I enjoyed meeting and working with over 300 patients, advocates, industry workers, doctors, elected officials, research, etc.

This year’s conference was definitely ASA's best yet. I am looking forward to furthering our work.

Check out the first video from ASA's conference has been uploaded - PANEL - PRODUCT SAFETY: https://youtu.be/eB55aCGFqJM

There are many other great educational videos that have been uploaded to check out too.