“The ACNA has continued to work on fulfilling our mission to advance excellence in cannabis nursing practice through advocacy, collaboration, education, research and policy development” said ACNA President Eloise Theisen, MSN, RN, AGPCNP-BC. “In light of the pandemic, we recognize that many people will experience trauma from it. Traumatic events can lead to a possible PTSD diagnosis which has been linked to increased rates of depression, anxiety, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Recognizing that a high percentage of patients cannot tolerate conventional treatment options for PTSD, ACNA drafted a position statement on cannabis use for PTSD. Understanding that the endocannabinoid system plays a role in PTSD, the ACNA supports the use of cannabis for PTSD and is calling on our Nation’s governing bodies to acknowledge cannabis as a treatment for PTSD.”

Currently in two states, PTSD does not qualify for a medical cannabis program. A total of 17 states still have no medical cannabis program or safe access. “We hope that more states will adopt PTSD as a qualifying condition while we work on descheduling the plant and continue to provide patients with safe access” said Eloise Theisen, MSN, RN, AGPCNP-BC.

ACNA Board of Directors member and Chair of the Government Affairs Committee Michael Rochlin, RN, MN, COHN-S, CSP stated, “This unusual crisis demands innovative thinking, and ACNA has professional members to provide a meaningful impact.” Non-stop and unrelenting service in the face of this public health crisis can bring about PTSD and it is important for the American healthcare system, policy makers, medical personnel and the general public to know about the important role that cannabinoids can play in the treatment of PTSD.

About the American Cannabis Nurses Association

The ACNA is a national organization dedicated to expanding the knowledge base of endo-cannabinoid therapeutics among nurses. The organization was founded by a small group of dedicated nurses who saw the need for an organization to bring nurses together in a collegial and informational capacity to discuss the growing use of cannabis in medicine. The ACNA is a national 501C3 organization

Source: https://cannabisnurses.org/Press-Releases/8966884