The federal government has finally acknowledged the "accepted medical use" of cannabis—but for millions of patients, the battle for true integration into the US healthcare system is just beginning. As we face a shifting regulatory landscape, is Schedule III a victory or a trap?

About This Episode:

In this episode of High Spirits, hosts Ben Larson & AnnaRae Grabstein are joined by Steph Sherer, the powerhouse Founder and Executive Director of Americans for Safe Access (ASA). With nearly 25 years of advocacy under her belt, Steph provides a masterclass on the political realities of rescheduling, the critical need for a "Schedule 6" designation, and why the cannabis industry must stop "waiting" for policy to happen to them.

From the fallout of the CannaBev Summit in Miami to the nuances of the recent executive orders, this conversation cuts through the noise of social media to reveal what is actually happening in the halls of DC.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• The Schedule III vs. Schedule 6 Debate: Why moving cannabis to Schedule III helps businesses with taxes but fails to provide the federal framework patients actually need.
• The "Triage" of State Programs: How current state medical markets were designed as temporary fixes and why it’s time to move toward national integration.
• The Redefinition of Medicine: Why the FDA's current pathway is broken for complex botanicals and how the proposed Office of Medical Cannabis Control could fix it.
• The Power of "The Patient": Why simply mentioning the word "patient" remains the most effective tool for shifting the perspective of federal regulators.

🌟 Meet Steph Sherer:

Steph Sherer is a pioneer in the medical cannabis movement, having founded Americans for Safe Access in 2002 in response to federal raids on California dispensaries. She has trained over 100,000 advocates, worked with the World Health Organization to change international drug treaties, and is currently leading ASA’s "second act" to fully integrate cannabis into the US healthcare system. Steph is widely recognized as one of the most influential advocates in the history of the movement.

📅 Why Tune In?

Whether you are a hemp operator worried about the Farm Bill or a cannabis executive navigating rescheduling, Steph Sherer explains why the "patient perspective" is the ultimate leverage for long-term industry stability. If you want to understand the difference between social media rumors and DC reality, this episode is essential.

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Your hosts are Ben Larson and AnnaRae Grabstein.

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