SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½

Initiatives

Advancing Racial Justice and Health Equity

SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½is committed to pursuing advocacy initiatives that advance racial justice and improve the health of all people suffering from addiction.

Cannabis Policy Reform

Learn more about ASAM’s efforts to advance cannabis decriminalization while protecting the health and safety of patients.

Learn more about the Drug Enforcement Administration's proposed rescheduling of marijuana from reading ASAM's comment letter submitted on the proposed rule, submitted July 19, 2024. If finalized, the proposed rule would move marijuana from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to Schedule III. This proposed transfer is based on a determination by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that marijuana has a currently accepted medical use (CAMU) and lower “abuse potential and level of physical and psychological dependence” than other controlled substances that are in schedule I.

While such a “wholesale” transfer may result in beneficial impacts to scientific research and/or pharmaceutical development, SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½recommended that the DEA consider the possible failure of marijuana with higher tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrations to meet HHS’ new, alternative test for CAMU. SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½also noted that significant, negative public health ramifications are likely to result if Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Code Section 280E no longer applies, and thus marijuana companies/dispensaries were allowed to take advantage of various federal tax deductions and credits due to a transfer of marijuana to Schedule III.

For these reasons, SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½could support a final rule that transfers only marijuana with lower THC concentrations to Schedule III, so long as any such final rule clearly states that (1) the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) will continue to apply, and (2) Schedule III requirements/controls will be enforced for those who take advantage of federal tax benefits due to 280E no longer being applicable after such a rescheduling. Higher potency marijuana, however, would remain in schedule I in the absence of Congressional action.

2022 Successes

On December 2, 2022, President Biden signed into law. This law will make it easier for researchers to study cannabis, which will potentially open the door to additional cannabis derived medicines and therapies.

Telemedicine

ASAM's has public policy recommendations in its Public Policy Statement on Optimizing Telehealth Access to Addiction Care.

Federal and state level  statutes and regulations governing telehealth are summarized in ASAM’s February 2022 policy briefs ( and ), which include SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½and State Chapter advocacy actions to expand coverage and access to addiction treatment via telehealth.

Tobacco Use Disorder:  Prevention and Treatment

SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½advances policies to prevent the use of tobacco products and envisions a future where everyone has access to treatments for tobacco use disorder. Learn more about our efforts to prevent tobacco use and expand access to evidence-based tobacco use disorder treatments:

• In Coalition, SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½Asks House Appropriations to Uphold Tobacco Fees and Oppose Weakening FDA Authority in Related Bill Markup.  Read more.
• SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½Joins 100+ Organizations Urging Biden Administration to Finalize Rules to Eliminate Menthol Cigarettes and Flavored Cigars.  Read more.
• SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½Supports Legislation Assisting Medicaid and CHIP Enrollees To Quit Using Tobacco.  Read more.
• SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½Responds to Draft HHS 2023 Framework to Support and Accelerate Smoking Cessation. Read more.
• SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½Clinical Guidance:  Integrating Tobacco Use Disorder Interventions in Addiction Treatment. Read more.

Clinical Guidance

SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½has a guide with clinical recommendations for. Read more.