Here’s What You Need to Know to Become a Cannabis Nurse

Have you thought about becoming a cannabis nurse? Patients who qualify for medical cannabis will need to be educated and assisted with taking their medication. A cannabis nurse is responsible for caring for these patients.

“One of the major benefits of being a cannabis nurse is witnessing patients safely and medically supervised, reducing their prescribed medications, and improving their quality of life,” says Eve Kandiyoti, a registered nurse and founder of the MC Wellness Group.

There is no national certification exam to become a cannabis nurse, but you can take courses on medical cannabis and get a certificate of completion.

We discuss how to become a cannabis nurse and work as one, federal regulations, and the cannabis nursing community.

A cannabis nurse can be a licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse, nurse practitioner, or doctor of nursing practice (DNP). They can hold an associate’s degree, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate.

Whether an LPN or a DNP, a cannabis nurse must have a comprehensive understanding of medical cannabis. They should know the essentials of cannabis nursing like the endocannabinoid system, how cannabis affects the body, and the therapeutic parts of the Cannabis sativa plant.

Cannabis nurses work with patients who have conditions such as:

A cannabis nurse’s scope of practice is defined by the American Cannabis Nurses Association (ACNA). It is categorized by 17 standards of care. Working with a team of healthcare providers, cannabis nurses support patients’ needs. They guide them through cannabis information and possible misinformation.

A cannabis nurse’s responsibility is to:

Since 2017, the ACNA has been working on having nurses become certified through the American Nurses Association (ANA) and American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Since there is no existing official certification for cannabis nurses, the ACNA does provide courses and training for interested nurses.

“Courses that offer continuing education credit, like the Cannabis Nurses Network, are excellent ways to receive a ‘certificate’ in cannabis nursing,” says Kandiyoti.

The length of time it takes to enter this career depends on your nursing education background and experience. Online courses, like Advanced Cannabis Science and Therapeutics, are provided by Radicle Health and vary in price. The steps that must be taken to practice in this role are centered around the program and certificate requirements. This may vary by state.

Cannabis nurses pursue a traditional path of becoming a nurse, including:

“Once you know the basics of the endocannabinoid system and cannabinoid therapeutics and begin implementing them into your nursing practice, you are a cannabis nurse,” says Kandiyoti.

Cannabis nurses can work in many kinds of healthcare facilities and share similar roles. They can work in:

Dispensaries

Consulting practices

Hospitals

Cannabis nurses can also start their own businesses like creating online blogs educating family members and patients on medical cannabis, or they can volunteer at a cannabis health hotline.

The average salary as of December 2021 for a cannabis nurse is $66,430 according to ZipRecruiter. Nursing schools currently do not include the therapeutic effects of cannabis into the nursing curriculum, but the National Council of State Boards of Nursing created official guidelines for caring for patients using medical marijuana.

Cannabinoids are federally illegal. The ACNA states nurses should be aware of their state’s scope of nursing practice. On their website, the ACNA highlights this disclaimer:

“Nurses must be aware that cannabis and most cannabinoids are federally illegal. They must also be knowledgeable about their state’s delineated scope of nursing practice and consider the legal status of cannabis in the given state and community where they practice.”

Cannabis is a Schedule I controlled substance. It can only be prescribed by a licensed, registered, or certified provider, like a doctor or nurse practitioner, who has the authorization to prescribe controlled substances.

In order to practice within their scope of practice, cannabis nurses should refer to the Medical Marijuana Program (MMP) in their state. The MMP is the official legislative resource for the use of medical marijuana in your state.

According to the Journal of Nursing Regulation, when looking up your MMP, search the jurisdiction’s website or Department of Health for “medical cannabis program” or “medical marijuana program.” Always read the most recent version.

Your MMP will specify:

Thirty-six states and four territories passed legislation legalizing the use of medical cannabis. However, cannabis nurses still may face a negative reputation due to the stigma associated with marijuana.

There are two main types of credentials maintained by cannabis nurses:

The national nursing board issues an exam to test nursing competency and is required for state licensure. Cannabis nurses can then earn a certificate in their specialty.

Licensure:

Certificate:

There are two cannabis nursing communities that have active members and a diverse group of nurses.

“The Cannabis Nurses Network and American Cannabis Nurses Association are great ways to connect with local and national cannabis nurses,” says Kandiyoti.

Once you become a cannabis nurse, becoming a member of a professional nursing association promotes community and allows for networking opportunities. You can also stay up to date on evidence-based practices happening with medical marijuana.

Medical marijuana is a growing industry and has many health benefits like decreasing chronic pain, seizures, and chronic inflammation. Cannabis nurses are in demand to educate and care for the close to 3.6 million Americans who are state-legal medical marijuana patients.

As long as cannabis nurses follow their scope of practice and follow guidelines from their state MMP, they should feel comfortable in providing safe and holistic nursing care to patients taking cannabis medication.