Who: Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton – District of Columbia
Congressman Earl Blumenauer – Oregon
Congressman Dana Rohrabacher – California
Steph Sherer – Americans for Safe Access, District of Columbia
Rabbi Khan – Takoma Wellness Center, District of Columbia
Kate Hintz – Parent Advocate, New York
Christine Stenquist – Patient Advocate, Utah
Fernando Cordero – Epilepsy Foundation, Virginia
Jeanne Sauro – Patient Advocate, Massachusetts
Patrick Seifert – Veteran Advocate, Washington
When: Tuesday, March 22 11:30 am
Where: United States Capitol Grounds Demonstration Area 10 (Click here for map)
Why: Tuesday, hundreds of patients, advocates, and other stakeholders will be meeting with members of Congress in support of the Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States (CARERS) Act (S.683 and H.R.1583). With Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Senator Christopher Murphy (D-CT) becoming co-sponsors of the bill last week, momentum for support has increased. Currently 40 states have medical marijuana programs, and the conflict between state and federal laws has reached a tipping point. Legislators, patients, advocates, and other stakeholders will give the press added insight into the current state of medical marijuana laws in this country and the effects of passing the CARERS Act would have on these groups. The lobby day is the culminating event of the 4th Annual National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference: A Conference on Harmonization of Global Cannabis Policy and Action being held March 18-22nd at the Loews Madison Hotel in Washington, D.C.
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Source: With over 100,000 active members in all 50 states, Americans for Safe Access (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 and legal barriers by creating policies that improve access to medical cannabis for patients and researchers through legislation, education, litigation, grassroots actions, advocacy and services for patients and caregivers.