ANA Position on the use of medical marijuana
The American Nurses Association supports the use of medical marijuana among patients who suffer from many known medical conditions. The qualifying medical conditions include “cancer pain, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, endometriosis, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (Trossman, 2010). The American Nurses Association has supported the therapeutic use of medical marijuana for over a decade (ANA, 2008). There are three main points that the American Nurses Association does support in the issue of marijuana being used medically. Firstly, patients who do suffer from one of the conditions listed and need to use it are exempt from the criminal penalties that others can face if they are found guilty for the …show more content…
They have greatly supported the classification of marijuana as a Schedule I drug. According the FDA when a drug is classified as a schedule I controlled substance , it means that the drug has a high potential for abuse and no medical use has been linked to it(FDA.gov).Recently the AMA changed their views on the use of medical marijuana. While the idea of downgrading of marijuana from a schedule I controlled substance to a lower category surfaced the country for many years, they have argued that the federal government should only consider that idea to allow thorough research to be conducted to prove its medicinal value. Until more research is done and have proven its medical use , marijuana should remain on the federal government’s list of schedule I drugs . Great , conclusive studies are available on the use of marijuana to treat chronic pain associated with cancer. However, the AMA believes that there aren’t enough studies done on its use with the other conditions to be considered “medically safe”. They have urged the National Institutes of Health to facilitate funding for well designed trials of medical marijuana (Fiore, 2009). Through thorough research , the therapeutic dose can be determined as well as the best route for administration …show more content…
In the most recent poll done at the Quinnipiac University it was found that 89% of American support the legal use of medical marijuana and 9% of Americans oppose it (Maloy, 2016). The study also revealed that the majority of Veterans did support the use of medical marijuana for the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Veterans actually support the conversion of the drug into a pill form which will make it a bit easier. In other studies it was also noted that older Americans (older than 65 years old) did not support the legalization and the medical use of marijuana (Swift ,2013).Currently in New Jersey there are only five designated dispensaries with an average price of $300 an ounce (Sacribey ,2016).This creates a problem for the patient . One factor that patients consider when buying marijuana is the quality of it. The patient is worried about buying marijuana for such a high price but with poor quality. According to the New Jersey Compassionate Use Marijuana Act that was passed by Governor Corzine in 2010, a qualified patient can only have 2 ounces of marijuana within 30 days in the state of New Jersey (nj.gov). Therefore if a patient does get a poor quality marijuana for a cheaper price, it is certain that he or she will need more than 2 ounces to alleviate the chronic pain experienced. The patient then have to wait for the remainder of the 30 days to get another two ounces
The American Nurses Association supports the use of medical marijuana among patients who suffer from many known medical conditions. The qualifying medical conditions include “cancer pain, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, endometriosis, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (Trossman, 2010). The American Nurses Association has supported the therapeutic use of medical marijuana for over a decade (ANA, 2008). There are three main points that the American Nurses Association does support in the issue of marijuana being used medically. Firstly, patients who do suffer from one of the conditions listed and need to use it are exempt from the criminal penalties that others can face if they are found guilty for the …show more content…
They have greatly supported the classification of marijuana as a Schedule I drug. According the FDA when a drug is classified as a schedule I controlled substance , it means that the drug has a high potential for abuse and no medical use has been linked to it(FDA.gov).Recently the AMA changed their views on the use of medical marijuana. While the idea of downgrading of marijuana from a schedule I controlled substance to a lower category surfaced the country for many years, they have argued that the federal government should only consider that idea to allow thorough research to be conducted to prove its medicinal value. Until more research is done and have proven its medical use , marijuana should remain on the federal government’s list of schedule I drugs . Great , conclusive studies are available on the use of marijuana to treat chronic pain associated with cancer. However, the AMA believes that there aren’t enough studies done on its use with the other conditions to be considered “medically safe”. They have urged the National Institutes of Health to facilitate funding for well designed trials of medical marijuana (Fiore, 2009). Through thorough research , the therapeutic dose can be determined as well as the best route for administration …show more content…
In the most recent poll done at the Quinnipiac University it was found that 89% of American support the legal use of medical marijuana and 9% of Americans oppose it (Maloy, 2016). The study also revealed that the majority of Veterans did support the use of medical marijuana for the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Veterans actually support the conversion of the drug into a pill form which will make it a bit easier. In other studies it was also noted that older Americans (older than 65 years old) did not support the legalization and the medical use of marijuana (Swift ,2013).Currently in New Jersey there are only five designated dispensaries with an average price of $300 an ounce (Sacribey ,2016).This creates a problem for the patient . One factor that patients consider when buying marijuana is the quality of it. The patient is worried about buying marijuana for such a high price but with poor quality. According to the New Jersey Compassionate Use Marijuana Act that was passed by Governor Corzine in 2010, a qualified patient can only have 2 ounces of marijuana within 30 days in the state of New Jersey (nj.gov). Therefore if a patient does get a poor quality marijuana for a cheaper price, it is certain that he or she will need more than 2 ounces to alleviate the chronic pain experienced. The patient then have to wait for the remainder of the 30 days to get another two ounces