Most NP Students Want Medical Marijuana Curriculum

• A new study in “The Nurse Practitioner Journal” found that most nurse practitioner students believe medical marijuana education should be part of their curriculum.
• Nursing organizations support declassifying the Schedule I controlled substance, in part, to expand the ability to conduct research.
• Moves have been made to reclassify the drug, but a hearing isn’t scheduled to take place until December.

Let’s be blunt — a majority of nurse practitioner students believe medical marijuana education should be part of their curriculum.

The findings come from a study published this month in “The Nurse Practitioner” that surveyed student NPs about their knowledge of medical marijuana and perceptions of both its medicinal and recreational use.

Nursing organizations have thrown their support behind reclassifying marijuana to research its medical benefits — and one group was established, in part, to champion an official cannabis nursing certification.

But an official specialty, and research on the current Schedule 1 controlled substance, is in a gray area due to federal drug policy. 

Current Medical Marijuana Education

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) supports the “inclusion of marijuana and cannabinoids in nursing education and continuing education, among other cannabis-related issues.”

But only 30% of respondents in “The Nurse Practitioner” study said they had received “in-depth education” on medical marijuana. When asked to identify medical conditions approved for medical marijuana usage, “accurate response rate was low, though cancer, pain, cachexia, nausea/vomiting, posttraumatic stress disorder, and epilepsy were identified correctly as indications by more than half of participants,” the study authors wrote. 

 The authors also noted that religious affiliation and past medical marijuana use contributed to “knowledge and perceptions” of the drug. 

RELATED COURSE: Medical Cannabis in Epilepsy Treatment

While not yet recognized as a specialty by the industry’s governing body, nurses who are interested in gaining expertise in the area of cannabis nursing can take continuing education courses. Nursing CE Central is among providers who offer courses on medical cannabis for both epilepsy treatment and pain management among cancer patients.

Some universities also offer programs or courses in medical cannabis science or pharmaceutical sciences. 

Medical Marijuana Uses

Last September, the American Nurses Association (ANA) recognized cannabis nursing as a specialty nursing practice. Rachel Parmelee, MSN, RN, and American Cannabis Nurse Association (ACNP) president, told Becker’s Hosptial Review in 2023 that the recognition highlights the value of cannabis nurses.

“Such changes enable patients to benefit from the legal and safe use of cannabinoids for disease treatment and symptom management,” Parmelee said. “Cannabis nurses lead in characterizing the urgency and efficacy of clinical research and regulatory reform associated with the use of cannabinoids.”

A recent study on the use of medical cannabis among Appalachian adults found that “health and well-being improved significantly” among those who added the drug to their treatment plans.

“Patients should feel comfortable discussing medical cannabis with their providers,” the authors stated. “Increased provider knowledge about medical cannabis use and benefits may increase their willingness to provide access for patients managing chronic conditions in Virginia’s Appalachian region.”

Other studies and research conducted over the past decade have produced similar results. 

Positions on Medical Marijuana

A majority of the NP students surveyed for “The Nurse Practitioner” study believe medical marijuana should be legalized nationwide. 

The ANA has supported safe access to “therapeutic marijuana and related cannabinoids” for more than two decades and reiterated its support in a 2021 position statement. 

“Marijuana and its derivatives continue to be used to alleviate disease-related symptoms and side effects,” ANA stated. “The findings of anecdotal and controlled studies regarding the efficacy for patient use are mixed. Current federal regulations impede the research necessary to evaluate and determine the therapeutic use of marijuana and related cannabinoids … The goal is to develop an evidence-based approach to its use in the treatment of disease and symptom management.” 

RELATED COURSE: Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome

However, support is not widespread. A “Missouri Medicine” commentary cites lack of evidence for therapeutic benefits, varying regulatory standards, and “off-label” use in its position against legalization of the drug. The American Psychiatric Association in 2019 opposed cannabis as medicine and in 2022 urged authorities “to measure and monitor the health and safety consequences of policies enacted by states that legalize the cultivation, distribution, and possession of cannabis and to fund relevant research.” 

Last August, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposed reclassifying marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act and the recommendation was made in January. 

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), in April, agreed to reclassify the substance, according to Associated Press reports, but a hearing won’t be held until December. 

The Bottom Line

A new survey revealed that most nurse practitioner students both support legalization of medical marijuana and would like to see more curriculum on medical marijuana. Some universities offer courses and programs that specialize in medical cannabis science, but “cannabis nurse” as a specialty is not yet recognized by the industry’s governing body.

Arguments exists on both sides of the issue of cannabis use in a medical setting, but actual research is currently limited by cannabis’ federal controlled substance classification. 

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