The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA), representing more than 218,000 registered nurses in Pennsylvania, stated that they will not support Senate Bill 3 PN 793, “Reintroduction of Medical Cannabis”, after an amendment was approved on April 21, 2015 by the Senate State Government Committee. As currently written, Senate Bill 3 PN 793 is no longer patient-centered with nurses as key members of the care team.
In January 2014, PSNA was the first health care association to support SB 1182, “Medical Cannabis,” introduced by Senators Mike Folmer and Daylin Leach. SB 1182 was model legislation that was strictly monitored, tightly controlled and medically prescribed. SB 1182 allowed for registered nurses to dispense medical cannabis, which is ideal in a health care environment that faces a physician shortage.
“Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis legislation originally focused on patient-centered care,” states PSNA Chief Executive Officer Betsy M. Snook, MEd, RN, BSN. “Not only did it provide patients with safe access to therapeutic cannabis for symptom management of intractable medical conditions, but it also protected both patients and health care providers from criminal prosecution, civil liabilities and/or professional sanctioning. Finally, it provided for the establishment of efficient drug delivery, growing and dispensing systems, including registered nurses as dispensers.”
Senate Bill 3 PN 793 no longer contains the provisions that initiated PSNA to support the previous version of the bill. PSNA and the American Nurses Association (ANA) have supported patients’ rights to legally and safely utilize medical marijuana for symptom management of intractable diseases and their sequelae and will continue to advocate doing so.
The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA) is the non-profit voice for nurses in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Representing more than 218,000 nurses, PSNA leads, advocates, educates and connects with registered nurses across the Commonwealth. PSNA is a constituent member of the American Nurses Association. www.psna.org