Many Thanks: Steph ShererPosted by Mickey Martin on April 17th, 2011

To those of you who do not know Steph Sherer, she is the Executive Director for Americans for Safe Access and a true cannabis hero. I met Steph many years go when she first began developing ASA and fell in love with her passion, leadership and ability to tell the truth even when it was not what someone wanted to hear. Her ability to organize and motivate this movement is a major reason why medical cannabis has such a strong and fertile position in our society today. She rose up to meet the challenges faced by medical cannabis advocates and patients and took the good fight directly to those who oppose it. Her organization has been instrumental in making the world a safer and more respectful place for patients and providers and for that I thank her.

When I was raided by Federal Agents in 2007 the very first call I made was to Americans for Safe Access. Why? Because I am no dummy. I knew I had the battle of a lifetime on my hands and that I needed some serious help to find a path to freedom and justice. Steph and her staff not only talked me off the ledge, as I was in a panic, they responded to where my staff was being held by Federal agents and began asking questions and helped me organize a press conference and response that shifted the tide of the prosecutors who wanted to lock me in prison for a decade for providing medical cannabis edibles. As I walked around the corner and saw Steph standing there on October 4th, 2007 in front of the Federal Building with a gaggle of signs reading “DEA keep your hands out of the medical marijuana cookie jar” I knew I was not alone. I felt that things may be alright. Steph’s composure helped me to be strong and stand up there and tell the world about the injustices of the Federal action to raid my home and business. Her confidence and leadership are contagious.

Steph Sherer has inspired me to be a better activist and her no nonsense approach to medical cannabis reform has helped me to be a stronger voice in our quest for cannabis freedom. I look up to Steph as a person who I can count on to tell me the truth- even if it is something I do not want to hear. I know she will be honest in her approach and her wise and caring words always leave me thinking about what I can do to help the cause. My only regret is that I do not have more time to spend with Steph, as she is the hardest working woman in the medical cannabis movement and has a lot on her plate. I am always glad to see her at events and marvel at her ability to work a room. She is a master of strategic planning and has developed ASA into a powerhouse of activism and success.

So MANY THANKS to my good friend and trusted advisor, Steph Sherer. May you continue to sail the seas of ambition and land on the shores of success. Your work is legendary and I could not be more proud of you. If you do not know Steph Sherer, get to know her. She is a transformational presence that is great role model for anyone looking to change the world for the better. If you get a chance to see her speak at an event, do it. You are sure to learn a thing or two and it is always great to watch a master in action. So once again…THANKS, Steph. You are the shit.

BIO from www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org

Steph Sherer is a medical marijuana patient with over eleven years of experience servicing and managing non-profit businesses and community organizations including: event planning, consulting, fund development, public relations, and project management. She has worked with community development, education, social justice, human rights, peace, social change, and youth programs. She is a powerful advocate, a skilled spokesperson, and an energetic initiator of campaigns. Steph is a nationally recognized activist in the global justice movement and has received several community awards for work including the San Diego Peacemaker of the Year Award in 2003. She is a guest lecturer at University California, Berkeley and George Washington University, DC.