[PRESS RELEASE] – OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., June 29, 2026 – Oklahomans for Safe Access (OSA), the Americans for Safe Access (ASA) Oklahoma Action Group, announced the establishment of a statewide coalition dedicated to advancing patient-centered medical cannabis policy, education and advocacy throughout Oklahoma. The coalition includes The Cannabis Center of Excellence, Patients for Safe Access of Oklahoma (PFSA-OK), Synergistic Cannabis Consulting, and Patient Advocates Austin Jones and Steph Davis.
The group formed in the wake of the new federal cannabis laws that were created on April 28, 2026, when the Department of Justice issued a final order placing “marijuana products regulated by qualifying state medical cannabis licenses into Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act.”
“President Trump’s December 18, 2025, Executive Order, ‘Increasing Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research,' directed the attorney general to take all necessary steps to complete the process of rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act ‘in the most expeditious manner,’” said Dr. Marion McNabb, president of the Cannabis Center of Excellence. “The acting attorney general followed that order by creating an expedited pathway for state-licensed medical cannabis programs to register with the DEA and recognized patients' enrollment in state programs as having equal protection as prescriptions.”
“Now that Oklahoma’s medical cannabis program is no longer in violation of federal law, all stakeholders will need to come together to educate their communities about what this means for cannabis’ integration into health care for Oklahomans,” McNabb said.
Collectively, OSA is committed to ensuring that patients, caregivers, health care professionals, researchers and responsible industry stakeholders have a unified and effective voice as Oklahoma navigates evolving state and federal medical cannabis policies.
The coalition will focus on the following priorities:
- Advancing patient-centered medical cannabis policy.
- Delivering reliable, evidence-based education to patients, caregivers, health care professionals and policymakers.
- Promoting community engagement through educational events, advocacy initiatives and public forums.
- Participating in Oklahoma's Schedule III readiness, laboratory testing, product safety, recalls and patient protections.
- Developing practical, science-driven policy recommendations that enhance transparency, public health and the overall effectiveness of Oklahoma's medical cannabis program.
OSA affirms that Oklahoma's medical cannabis program should continue to evolve through collaboration, scientific rigor and meaningful patient engagement. By uniting leaders from health care, research, advocacy and the cannabis industry, the coalition seeks to support the development of a stronger, safer and more sustainable medical cannabis program for all qualified Oklahoma patients.
"Patients deserve clean, quality medical cannabis in final form in Oklahoma. PFSA-OK works to improve product testing transparency and will contribute patient voices and input to improve product safety as part of the coalition," said Summer Parker of PFSA-OK.
“For too long, patients have lived under policies that shape their lives without having a meaningful voice in creating them,” Jones said. “OSA was formed to change that. As state and federal cannabis policy enters a new era, Oklahoma has an opportunity to lead by building a medical cannabis framework rooted in science, patient safety, regulatory accountability and evidence-based health care. This isn't about politics; it's about public health. Every patient deserves a seat at the table, and every policy should be guided by evidence and informed by the people it affects.”
“We are excited to see the formation of OSA as the nation is bracing for more changes in national cannabis policy,” said Steph Sherer, founder and executive director of Americans for Safe Access. “This unique coalition of stakeholders will be essential in ensuring that patients in Oklahoma understand and receive all the benefits they are entitled to under new federal laws.”
Follow Oklahoma’s for Safe Access on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/oklahoman-s-for-safe-access
