The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA), representing more than 215,000 registered nurses in Pennsylvania, applauds the passing of SB 1182, “Medical Marijuana,” from the Senate Law and Justice Committee to the State Senate floor. 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.

“This bill ensures that medical cannabis is tightly controlled, strictly monitored and medically prescribed,” states PSNA Chief Executive Officer Betsy M. Snook, MEd, RN, BSN. “We thank the Senate Law and Justice Committee for their action on this legislation. We are committed to our patients, the public and to collaborating with other health professionals to promote efforts determined to meet health needs and to shape health policy. That’s exactly what this bill does.”

This week, House Resolution 920, introduced by Safe Staffing prime sponsor Representative Mauree Gingrich (R-101), was passed by the House Human Services Committee. This resolution directs the Joint State Government Committee to study nurse staffing levels and has been referred to the House floor for consideration by all 203 State representatives.

Representative Gingrich and PSNA have collaborated on this comprehensive resolution that will look at professional bedside registered nurse demographics, length of stay in the profession, length of shifts, overtime requirements and hospital unit staffing levels. The goal of this study is to retrieve unbiased facts surrounding these issues and present them to lawmakers.

Take Action Today! Urge for Support of HR 920.

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