Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1362577
24 cannabis patient care | vol. 2 no. 1 cannapatientcare.com nurse focus a communications committee, but there was no diversity equi- ty and inclusion committee. Theisen felt this was an important piece to the organization and has begun assessing the institu- tion and work towards being an anti-racist organization. "We're also looking at policy, government affairs, and how can we in- crease advocacy for nurses. Give them the tools that they need to be advocates at the local, state, and national levels," said Theisen. Another aspect Theisen is working towards is credential- ing. In many nursing specialties, you can become credentialed. An example of this would be for an oncology nurse, where you can be oncology certified. Although this is a big goal to achieve, ACNA is in the beginning stages of this plan and will continue to push forward. Theisen mentioned that with these credentials, it may help legitimize the work that nurses are doing in the space and help advance their goals of education and dispelling can- nabis myths so that misinformation becomes less and less for consumers and other healthcare professionals. Theisen co-authored, Pain Free with CBD: Everything You Need to Know to Safely and Effectively Use Cannabidiol, with Alice O'Lear y Randall who was the main author (7). In this book, Randall and Theisen educate patients on using CBD to treat medical conditions. One of the topics covered is drug- to-drug interactions, which ser ves as a reference guide to patients. Often, Theisen is asked about interactions with medications and cannabis. Not much is known due to lack of research as there aren't large studies performed on drug-to- drug interactions. This does not mean that there is no help in sight. Clinical decisions can be made such as whether a patient needs to be monitored or how unlikely it is that they will experience an interaction. Theisen expanded on this in her reference guide. "That was something that we were real- ly proud to offer so that patients had that reference and at least could bring that to their healthcare professional and say, I'm taking CBD and it looks like I might need you to mon- itor me a little bit closer," she said. "It helps them open up that conversation with their practitioner. Even if that practi- tioner doesn't know, at least we are providing help, tr ying to help star t that conversation, to reduce harm if there is going to be a potential interaction." Future Cannabis Aspirations Over the next few years Theisen hopes to see the federal de- criminalization of cannabis. She believes that decriminalization at the federal level is what is necessary for increased access and acceptance within the medical community. "I would like to see more healthcare professionals become educated on this because their patients are using it. It's our job to keep them safe. I would like us to help with dispelling the misinformation and working together as an industry. I do still think we're a little bit divided as an industry in terms of working together to make sure that we're providing safe access and reducing harm for patients," she said. "I recognize that healthcare professionals for decades have been missing from the cannabis industry and the work is primarily done by other advocates and educators. I'd love to see us come together more for the common good and common goal." Although there is a cloudy haze surrounding cannabis, the cannabis industry is gaining respect for the plant's medicinal properties. If given the chance, cannabis can serve as a treat- ment plan for a plethora of health conditions and help many patients live a better quality of life so that there is less reliance on prescription medications. References (1) https://www.medicinenet.com/chronic_pain/definition.htm. (2) https://leaf411.org. (3) https://www.cannabisnurses.org. (4) https://www.dea.gov/drug-scheduling. (5) https://www.healthline.com/health/endocannabinoid-system#how-it-works. (6) https://www.radiclehealthcare.com/. (7) A. O'Leary Randall and E. Theisen, Pain-Free with CBD: Everything You Need to Know to Safely and Effectively Use Cannabidiol (Rockridge Press, Emeryville, California, 2019). I would like to see more healthcare professionals become educated on this because their patients are using it. – E L O I S E T H E I S E N