Cannabis Wellness
Breaking the Silence
Why Nurses Must Lead in Cannabis Education
by Sammie Pyle, RN, Cannabis Nurse Educator
It happened in the breakroom. A coworker leaned in, lowered her voice, and whispered:“ How can you talk about weed out loud the way you do?” Smiling, I replied,“ Oh, you mean cannabis— the plant our patients are already using and need us to understand. The real question is, when will we stop whispering about it and finally bridge the gap between us and those we care for?”
That moment was more than just workplace gossip. It reflected a deep problem in healthcare: the ongoing stigma surrounding cannabis. Even as more patients turn to this plant for relief, many healthcare providers still treat the subject as taboo, whispered about behind closed doors. But silence comes at a cost. As nurses, we can no longer afford to ignore cannabis or the science behind it. Our patients need us to step forward with knowledge, not step back in judgment.
The Knowledge Gap
Cannabis is no longer confined to shadows. In Missouri and across the U. S., patients are walking into dispensaries, purchasing cannabis legally, and incorporating it into their wellness routines. They’ re using it for pain, insomnia, PTSD, anxiety, nausea, and more. Yet when they turn to their healthcare providers with questions, they’ re often met with blank stares, quick dismissals, or worse— shame.
This gap between patient use and provider knowledge isn’ t just inconvenient; it’ s unsafe. Patients are left to rely on the internet, dispensary budtenders, or trial and error. Without guidance, they risk adverse effects, drug interactions, or improper dosing. And for nurses, avoiding the subject doesn’ t erase our responsibility— it undermines the very principles of patient-centered care.
Professional Responsibility
In 2018, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing( NCSBN) published groundbreaking guidelines on nursing care of patients using medical cannabis. The guidelines made it clear: nurses have a professional obligation to understand the endocannabinoid system( ECS) and cannabis therapeutics. 1 The ECS is not an optional add-on to human anatomy— it is a fundamental regulatory system influencing mood, sleep, pain, and immune function.
The NCSBN outlined six essential principles for nurses, including the duty to educate patients, remain impartial, and recognize their own knowledge gaps. In short: cannabis competence isn’ t“ extra credit.” It’ s part of safe practice.
The American Nurses Association( ANA) has also taken a strong stance, finally recognizing cannabis nursing as a nursing specialty in 2023. 2 Our profession recognizes that patients are already using cannabis, and we have a duty to meet them with knowledge and support. To ignore this is to ignore our code of ethics.
Real-World Impact
Every week, emergency rooms across the country see patients presenting with symptoms tied to cannabis use: impaired attention, balance, tachycardia, cognition, judgment, memory, and sense of time. 3 These visits are often preventable. Many result not from the plant itself but due to a lack of education— patients consuming too much THC, misunderstanding dosage, or using unregulated products.
Imagine the difference if every ER nurse could confidently respond:
● Assess the situation without judgment.
● Educate patients about safe dosing, hydration, and product quality.
● Provide reassurance and reduce stigma, rather than embarrassment.
This is not theoretical. It is happening now, and nurses are on the frontlines. When we stay silent, we leave our patients unsupported and vulnerable. When we step up, we save them from unnecessary fear, hospital bills, and trauma.
Breaking the Whisper Culture
The whisper I heard in the breakroom isn’ t unique. Across hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes, cannabis is still spoken of in hushed tones. We treat it as something shameful when, in reality, it is a medicine that has been used for thousands of years.
Breaking that silence takes courage. It means saying“ cannabis” out loud in clinical spaces. It means asking our patients about their use with the same professionalism we would ask about prescription medications, alcohol, or supplements. It means dismantling stigma— not with arguments, but with knowledge and compassion.
A Call to Missouri Nurses
Here in Missouri, we have a unique opportunity. Our state has legalized cannabis, our patients are using it, and our communities are watching to see how healthcare responds. Nurses can lead the way.
I am calling on my colleagues— especially Missouri nurses— to:
● Educate yourself( I can help). Learn about the endocannabinoid system and cannabis therapeutics.
● Join professional organizations. The American Cannabis Nurses Association is building a community of nurses committed
24 November 2025