Hundreds of Medical Marijuana Advocates to Gather in Washington, D.C. for National Conference, to Change Federal Policy
Father of 'Superstring Theory' Dr. John Schwarz to headline conference featuring scientists, medical and legal experts, policymakers
Washington, D.C. -- The country's leading medical marijuana
advocacy group, Americans for Safe Access (ASA), will host a 4-day National
Medical Cannabis Unity Conference, "Bridging the Gap Between
Public & Policy," this week in Washington, D.C. from February
22-25, 2013. The conference will feature medical and legal experts,
elected officials, as well as seasoned advocates from the U.S. and
overseas, including Canada, Israel and the Netherlands.
The conference will also feature a wide array of workshops and
panels focusing on scientific research, strategic planning, and
skills building, all aimed at providing advocates the tools they
need to achieve policy change on medical marijuana. On Monday at
9:30am, a press conference will be held at the Capitol Building,
featuring Members of Congress and other elected officials, in
advance of a lobby day where advocates from at least thirty-two
states will be meeting face-to-face with their Members of Congress
on medical marijuana issues. Specifically, advocates will be lobbying for passage of two
Congressional bills, H.R. 689, to reclassify marijuana for medical use,
and H.R. 710, to allow for an affirmative defense in federal court.
Renowned physicist and father of 'Superstring Theory,' Dr. John
Schwarz, will headline the national medical marijuana conference,
speaking publicly for the first time on this issue. "Being a
physicist, not a physician, I don't usually comment on issues in
medical science," Dr. Schwarz wrote in a Huffington
Post editorial from late last year. "But I can no longer
remain silent while people in my family and profession run the risk
of federal arrest so that they can follow the recommendations of
their doctors." Dr. Schwarz will join Dr. Sunil Aggarwal on Friday
at 8:30am for a press briefing to discuss their effort to petition
the Obama Administration with open letters from scientists and medical
professionals.
What: Press Briefing with John Schwarz, Father of the 'Superstring Theory' and Dr. Sunil Aggarwal at ASA's National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference"We're at a pivotal moment in the history of medical marijuana," said ASA Executive Director Steph Sherer. "It is now more important than ever for us to come together to better educate ourselves and strategize on changing public policy in order to meet the real needs of medical marijuana patients across the country," continued Sherer. "However, this conference is not just for patients and their advocates, it's also for lawyers, doctors, policymakers, and key stakeholders in the effort to establish medical marijuana as one of the public health issues of our time."
When: Friday, February 22nd at 8:30am
Where: The Mayflower Renaissance Hotel, State Room, 1127 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
What: Press Conference featuring Congressman Blumenauer (D-OR), Maryland Delegate Cheryl Glenn (D-Baltimore), and other elected officials, along with more than 200 advocates set to meet face-to-face with their Members of Congress
When: Monday, February 25th at 9:30am
Where: The House Triangle, Southeast side of the Capitol complex, Washington, D.C.
