Ashley’s story inspired ‘Ashley’s Law‘, an Illinois law that expanded protections for students who are registered medical cannabis patients, allowing them to access their medicine while at school.
Maureen joined me on Episode 252 of The Cole Memo podcast to discuss Ashley’s story and the advocacy that followed.
I recently received a message from Maureen Surin, mother of Ashley Surin, who asked me to share the following open letter to President Donald Trump.
Dear Mr. President,
I am writing to you from Schaumburg, Illinois, as a very passionate advocate and Mother and advocate behind Illinois Ashley’s Law, the law that allows qualified medical cannabis patients to access their medicine at school.
My daughter Ashley beat all the odds.
She is our miracle baby.
You really MUST meet her.
Ashley is 20 years old. She survived cancer beginning at age 2. She developed epilepsy as a young child and battled seizures for years. At age 12, she suffered a devastating seizure, a concussion and brain bleed, and required brain surgery.
Ashley is also autistic and intellectually disabled.
And she inspired Illinois Ashley’s Law in 2018.
Today, Ashley has been more than 8½ years seizure-free.
It is incredible.
She is not just surviving anymore. She is living a beautiful life—Special Olympics, dance, theater, biking, school clubs, arts and crafts, and so much more.
Medical cannabis changed Ashley’s life.
But now we need your help.
The waiting and waiting for laws to change has to stop.
Our state and many other states need federal help and federal guidance.
We need a Federal Medical Cannabis SAFE HARBOR Act.
“A federal Medical Cannabis Safe Harbor should be incorporated into pending federal cannabis legislation, including the STATES 2.0 Act and/or the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (S. 5022).”
Medical cannabis patients should not lose their rights simply because they cross a state line.
We want to be able to:
Travel safely with legally authorized medical cannabis
Access our medicine when it is produced in another state
Have employment protections
Have Insurance Access and a pathway toward Medicaid and Medicare coverage
Continue education and participate fully in our communities
Have federal protection for legitimate medical cannabis patients and caregivers
Ashley wants to travel.
She wants to live her life.
She wants access to the medicine that has helped keep her seizure-free.
I should not have to tell my daughter that she cannot travel because I don’t know whether her medicine is protected across a state line.
Mr. President, please help us close this federal gap.
Please let us know when we can meet with you, your administration, and our federal and state leaders.
We can help you help the world.
Ashley has already inspired one law.
Now let’s make sure her story helps inspire the federal protections that millions of medical cannabis patients need.
Thank you for your time and for all you do for our country.
GO USA!
Sincerely,
Maureen Surin
Schaumburg, Illinois
Mother of Ashley
Illinois Ashley’s Law Advocate
Ashley’s Uncle / Dr. Frank Opelka said about his niece “A little girl once lost is now found.”
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