04/24/2026
Midnight. A bus pulls out of Los Angeles.No one is sleeping.We’re going to fight！
Late night on April 20, the Alhambra Medcial University Alumni Association and Student Council traveled overnight to Sacramento for one reason—opposing AB 2497. We stayed up the entire night. By the time we arrived at the State Capitol at dawn, everyone was exhausted, but every face was determined. This wasn’t just a trip. It was a stand for our profession, our standards, and patient safety.
At the hearing, more than 200 acupuncturists and practitioners from across California showed up. The line stretched from inside the chamber all the way outside—that line was the voice of our entire field. When our profession is underestimated and our standards are lowered, we choose to stand up. Student Council President stepped forward holding signatures from 65 students. It wasn’t just a piece of paper—it was the voice of a new generation. I said it clearly: we strongly oppose AB 2497. Because acupuncture is not a simple technique. It is a medical practice built on over 3,000 hours of training. Thirty hours doesn’t create access—it creates risk.
When it came time to vote, we gathered outside the Capitol and raised our voices together: No on AB 2497, Protecting Public Safety! In that moment, there were no titles, no differences—just one shared purpose: protect our standards and protect our patients. We also met with legislators directly, demonstrating acupuncture in their offices, showing them firsthand what this medicine really is. This isn’t a slogan. It’s skill, discipline, and years of training.
That same night, we got back on the bus and headed straight back to Los Angeles. Tired—but more certain than ever. Because this is bigger than us. This is about the future of Chinese medicine in the U.S., about protecting its integrity and its place here. And this time, we didn’t just watch—we stepped in. As students, as future acupuncturists, we became part of this fight.
Standing side by side with experienced practitioners, we truly understood what this moment meant. This wasn’t just resistance—it was legacy. Decades of experience stood next to the next generation, speaking for the same cause. It was a passing of responsibility, a continuation of something much bigger than any one of us.
It was exhausting. But no one regrets it.
Because some things—you have to stand up for.And this time, we did！
Now more than ever, we have to keep pushing forward. ✊
