Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative ( MMERI ) of Florida
Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative ( MMERI ) of Florida
Nursing Carves Out Niche In Cannabis Health Care
The medical cannabis industry is one of the fastest growing in Florida and across the nation . Cannabis nursing is a specialized health care profession emerging within the industry .
Cannabis nurses can provide care , education , assessments , and support for patients that use medical cannabis products . They collaborate closely with physicians who can legally recommend cannabis as medicine .
Dr . Joseph Rosado , one of the first qualified medical marijuana physicians in Florida says he welcomes the prospect of the cannabis nurse educator profession gaining a place in his line of health care .
Sandra Guynes and Ivory Davis are medical cannabis nurses . Both are registered nurses and well-educated on the human body ’ s endocannabinoid system and how it reacts to legal cannabis- or CBD-infused medications . They are also co-founders of Cannabis Nurses of Color , which focuses on providing nurses with reliable and evidence-based information on medical cannabis .
The field of cannabis nursing is so new that there is no certification program for it yet , but Ms . Guynes says the National Council for State Board of Nursing has issued guidelines for nurses who are interested in working with medical marijuana doctors and patients .
Ms . Davis would like to see a standard nursing curriculum cover the endocannabinoid system just as it does the cardiovascular system and have it include education on medical cannabis .
“ This is a unique time to shape health care ,” she says . “ I like to tell people to get active with your nursing organization on the local levels , because this topic is going to eventually come up , and you want to be at the table , especially as an advocate .”
Ms . Guynes says for those nurses looking to get into the cannabis nursing profession make sure to stick to the guidelines and the laws of your state .
“ I always say , follow the guidelines , just like anything else . You always want to stay within your scope and standard of practice . On the American Cannabis Nurse Association website , they have a scope and standard for cannabis nurses . We have all these resources on our Cannabis Nurses of Color website as well ,” says Guynes . “ Use the guidelines , and also research your state ’ s position on cannabis for your state board of nursing .”
Visit https :// youtu . be / o26YpRZma3I to watch MMERI ’ s Conversations on Cannabis Virtual Forum featuring Dr . Joseph Rosado , Ivory Davis MN , RN , and Sandra Guynes MSN , RN discuss cannabis nursing . For more information on medical marijuana and to sign up for the MMERI newsletter , go to http :// mmeri . famu . edu .