The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA), representing more than 212,000 registered nurses in Pennsylvania, applauds Governor Corbett for listening to patients, parents and professional nurses on the compassionate use of medical cannabis. After meeting with parents of children who have Dravet Syndrome and other related severe seizure disorders, Governor Corbett today announced that he will discuss a medically responsible proposal that would allow access to cannabidiol (CBD) in Pennsylvania. Governor Corbett proposed several solutions, including new legislation that would allow a research-based pilot program with leading children’s hospitals in Pennsylvania.
“PSNA applauds the Governor’s decision to put politics aside and begin a meaningful dialogue surrounding the compassionate use of medical cannabis,” stated PSNA CEO Betsy M. Snook, MEd, BSN, RN. “We are prepared to collaborate with the administration and look forward to registered nurses remaining at the decision-making table. PSNA will continue to support further education of registered nurses and other health care providers regarding appropriate evidence-based therapeutic use of cannabis that have proven to be therapeutically effective for all patients.”
In January 2014 PSNA announced its support of Senate Bill 1182 “Medical Cannabis” introduced by Senator Mike Folmer and Senator Daylin Leach. SB 1182 both protects patients from prosecution when seeking the use of medicinal cannabis and protects health care providers who suggest medicinal cannabis to relieve intractable medical conditions or symptoms. PSNA supports the establishment of efficient drug delivery, growing and dispensing systems as contained within SB 1182.
It is the position of PSNA that medical marijuana is worthy of further rigorous clinical testing. To truly weigh the risks and benefits of medical marijuana, there must be federal-level open discussions regarding the conversion of marijuana from a Schedule I to Schedule II drug classification. Schedule II classification would allow testing of consistent grade medical marijuana in a randomized controlled fashion to ascertain the drug’s risk/benefit profile for a multitude of illnesses and symptoms.
