Unity 2022 Program Book

Agenda is subject to change, all times are presented in Eastern Time

Monday, December 12

5:00 - 5:15 PM ET: Welcome and overview Debbie Churgai and Steph Sherer

5:15 - 6:00 PM ET: Yesterday- How Advocates Helped Change the Conversation of Medical Cannabis
Since 2002, ASA and our group of grassroots advocates have helped create the space for medical cannabis access. In this panel you will hear from past ASA members on the many obstacles that we had to fight through to get to where we are today.

• Don Duncan, Americans for Safe Access
• Tony Bowles, Tony Bowles Consulting
• Rebecca Saltzman, BART/ASA
• Caren Woodson, Kiva Confections
• Paul Scott, Los Angeles Black Gay Pride Association

6:00 - 6:30 PM ET: Live Panel Q&A with panel presenters

6:30 - 7:00 PM ET: 20 Years of Advocacy Presentation with Steph Sherer 

Tuesday, December 13

5:00 - 5:15 PM ET: Welcome and overview Debbie Churgai and Steph Sherer

5:15 - 6:00 PM ET: Today: What’s Working for Patients
Americans for Safe Access and countless other advocates have, through their dedication and courage, created a system of medical cannabis access across most of our country. US patients' ability to access cannabis is broader than ever before. This panel will discuss the elements of our current medical cannabis regime that are actually serving patients.

• Dr. Chad Johnson, Co-Director, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Rylie Maedler, Rylie's Smile/Rylie's Sunshine
• Dustin Sulak, Healer.com/Integr8
• Dr. Leah Sera, University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy, Cannabis Science and Therapeutics Program

6:00 - 6:30 PM ET: Live Panel Q&A with panel presenters

6:30 - 7:15 PM ET: Today: Current Challenges faced by the Medical Cannabis Marketplace and Patients
While the political landscape is constantly changing around cannabis policy these advances are not always beneficial for patients and patient issues. In fact, patients are not only being left behind, in some arenas, they have been taken out of the conversation altogether. This panel will explore the challenges patients still face in 2022.

• Stormy Simon, Mother Ruggers
• Ellen Lenox Smith, US Pain Foundation
• Pamela Epstien, Eden Enterprises, Inc.
• Dr. Stephen Dahmer, Chief Medical Office, Vireo Health

7:15 - 7:45 PM ET: Live Panel Q&A with panel presenters

7:45 - 8:15 PM ET: State of the States Report Review 

8:15 - 8:30 PM ET: Contaminates Report Presentation

Wednesday, December 14

5:00 - 5:05 PM ET: Welcome and overview Debbie Churgai and Steph Sherer

5:05 - 6:05 PM ET: Tomorrow: The World We Envision, Safe and Affordable Access for All
While we struggle in the US to pass federal legislation, over 40 countries have passed federal medical cannabis programs. In this panel, experts from two of these countries will share their experiences in how they utilized research and clinical experience to integrate cannabis into their countries’ health care infrastructures.

• Dedi Meiri, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology
• Claude Cyr, McGill University Health Center

6:05 - 6:40 PM ET: Live Panel Q&A with panel presenters

6:40 - 7:00 PM ET: Federal Legislation Briefing: The Cannabis Patient Equity Act

7:00 - 7:30 PM ET: Reclaiming Patients Role in Cannabis Policy: A Campaign to Pass Federal Legislation

7:30 - 8:00 PM ET: Reclaiming Patients Role in Cannabis Policy: Live Q&A

8:00 - 8:15 PM ET: Live Wrap up