Currently, 31 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico allow for comprehensive public medical marijuana and cannabis programs, according to the . But this means several states do not allow for patients’ use of cannabis. Nurses must be able to support patients who use medicinal cannabis, but they must also protect their nursing licenses. The webinar, helps RNs, APRNs, physicians and other health professionals learn what lies behind the controversy and uncovers the myths surrounding cannabis.

Carey S. Clark, RN

The plant's roots go way back

Then, Clark explains the endocannabinoid system, which is the receptor system in the human body that supports homeostasis. The endocannabinoid system controls the central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as energy uptake and immune responses, among others. “I think once you understand the endocannabinoid system, hopefully we can begin to move out of wondering, ‘How does this medicine work and how does it seem to almost be like a snake oil? How can it possibly work with seizures, and then also work to maybe help with PTSD symptoms and support patients who are getting chemotherapy?’,” Clark said. “Once you understand that the whole entire body is brought into homeostasis through the endocannabinoid system, things begin to make sense.” Patients with an endocannabinoid deficiency — those who may not make enough cannabinoid — may need to supplement with exogenous cannabinoids like cannabis and other plants, equating its use for such a deficiency as being similar to “the way a diabetic needs insulin supplementation.”