After this session you’ll be able to:

1. Describe the dichotomy between federal and state legislation for the use of marijuana.
2. Explain the conditions that have moderate to high quality evidence for the use of cannabis.
3. Identify practice considerations for the nurse who will be caring for a patient that is using medical marijuana

Why this is important:

The use of either medical or recreational cannabis raises evolving public health, nursing practice, scientific, legal, educational, ethical, and social issues. Research on the efficacy of cannabis for treatment of certain medical conditions is limited and lacking, and even when there are indications of therapeutic efficacy, research does not specify indications, dosage, route, safety, side effects and long-term effects of cannabis. This limited research has impeded the education of nurses regarding patient use of cannabis, yet nurses are responsible for practice informed by current evidence.

Join Kathleen Russell as she shares the National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s (NCSBN) guidelines for nurses who care for patients using medical marijuana, as well as for nursing educators. This presentation will highlight the endocannabinoid system, federal and state legislation, a review of the scientific literature, and guidelines for nurses when caring for those using medical marijuana.