Championing Access, Choice, and Equity in Integrative Healthcare

Compassion Center’s advocacy division is dedicated to protecting patient rights and expanding access to integrative and plant-based healthcare options. We believe that everyone should have the freedom to make informed choices about their own health, including access to safe and effective therapies that go beyond conventional medicine. Our advocacy efforts extend from local communities to national and international platforms, working to reform healthcare laws and policies that impact patient freedoms and quality of care, and serving as bridges between stakeholders and patients’ continuum of care.

Our Core Areas of Advocacy, Outreach and Awareness

Compassion Center’s advocacy initiatives are focused on three core areas that address patient rights and access to care:

1. Access to Plant-Based and Integrative Therapies
   Compassion Center is a strong proponent of plant-based medicines and integrative therapies, including medical cannabis, psilocybin, and other natural treatments that offer safe, effective options for patients. We advocate for patient rights to choose these therapies as part of a comprehensive care plan, without facing stigma, barriers, or legal restrictions. This voice carries over into housing, healthcare and community corrections to empower patients.

2. Collaboration with Government Agencies, and Legislators
   We work closely with lawmakers, regulatory bodies, and government agencies to drive forward policies that uphold patient rights and expand healthcare access. Through partnerships with professional organizations such as the Coalition For Patient Rights (CPR) and the Integrative Providers Association (IPA), Compassion Center pushes for legislative changes that protect providers and their patients’ freedom to make personal healthcare decisions.

3. Equity in Integrative, Mental Health and Allopathic Healthcare Access
   Compassion Center is committed to breaking down barriers that prevent underserved populations from accessing integrative healthcare. We advocate for policies that address healthcare disparities, ensure affordability, and make integrative, whole-person care accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic status.

Our Key Advocacy Initiatives

Patient Rights, Medical Cannabis, Psilocybin, and Plant-Based Medicine Reform

Compassion Center has long championed the rights of patients, from access to medical cannabis, psilocybin, and other plant-based therapies to sponsoring medical devices, prosthetics and hearing devices outside the realm of affordability. Compassion Center believes in a future where these treatments, and solutions, are recognized and respected as part of an essential balance between traditional medicine, technology and healthcare. Our advocacy efforts in this area focus on:

• Descheduling and Policy Reform: Compassion Center, along with CPR, IPA and other allies, advocates for the full descheduling of cannabis and the reclassification of plant-based therapies so patients can access them without fear of legal repercussions. We support regulatory frameworks that allow patients to grow their own medicine and access safe, natural products without excessive oversight.

• Public and Provider Education: We work to educate both the public and healthcare providers on the benefits and potential of plant-based therapies. By dispelling myths and reducing stigma, we help create a more informed and accepting environment for patients who choose these treatments. Taking that a step further, we advocate on behalf of our patients with their landlords, probation and parole officers, healthcare providers and government agencies so as to ensure patients’ continuity of care is maintained while they participate in activities of daily living or reintegration.

Patient Freedom and Legal Protections

Patients should have the right to make decisions about their healthcare without interference or discrimination. Compassion Center advocates for policies that safeguard patient freedoms, such as:

• Patient Protections in Employment and Housing: We work to ensure that patients using medical cannabis or other plant-based therapies are not discriminated against in the workplace, housing, or other areas of life.

• Support for Legislative Bills: Compassion Center collaborates with policymakers to support bills that protect patients’ rights to choose integrative treatments. Through our partnerships and advocacy work, we help develop legislative solutions that reflect the evolving needs of patients and healthcare systems.