CLEARLAKE – This month, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) celebrates its five-year anniversary, which is milestone for the medical cannabis movement.

The Lake County ASA chapter's next meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, at the D&M Compassion Center, 15196 Lakeshore Dr, Clearlake.

Every day, ASA works in partnership with state, local and national legislators to overcome barriers and create policies that improve the lives of patients.

With more than 35,000 active members with chapters and affiliates in more than forty states, ASA is now the largest national member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic uses and research.

To date 12 states have adopted medical cannabis laws. In California the majority voted over 10 years ago for medical cannabis and yet there are cities and counties trying to ban medical cannabis cultivation and use.

ASA believes Americans need campaigns for safe access to implement the laws and educate patients, law enforcement and public officials. They also support eliminating barriers to safe access and research, protecting patients from legal risks and fully implementing the compassionate use law.

The group cited a recent editorial on medical marijuana in the American Association for the Advancement of Science's publication. The editorial, written by former FDA Commissioner and Editor-in-Chief of Science Magazine, Dr. Don Kennedy, concluded that the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) violated its own guidelines regarding information quality when it rejected the petition filed by ASA.

In February 2007, ASA filed a lawsuit in United States District Court in San Francisco against HHS and FDA for violating the little known Data Quality Act (DQA). The DQA is a mechanism to ensure that regulatory agencies base policy decisions on sound science. The DQA lawsuit followed a two year administrative process in which HHS denied ASA's petition.

"This is vindication from the scientific community that the medical efficacy of marijuana clearly exists and is being ignored by the federal government," said ASA Executive Director Steph Sherer. "The opinion illustrates the broad nature of support for the advancement of this important medicine."

The DQA lawsuit is currently pending before U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup. The government's response to ASA's complaint is due May 25, 2007, and the court is likely to hear oral arguments in July or August. "We're confident that science will ultimately prevail over politics," said ASA Chief Counsel Joe Elford. "The DQA is the vehicle to compel the federal government to recognize the truth about medical marijuana and validate the experiences of patients and doctors who have had success using it to alleviate suffering."

ASA provides educational literature, a toll free patient hotline for information and legal support – 888.929.4367, and you can download information from the newly redesigned web site – www.americansforsafeaccess.com.

For more information on Lake County's ASA chapter e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 245-6630.

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